Devils select netminder Nicolas Daws with No. 84 pick

The New Jersey Devils selected Nicolas Daws with the 84th overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft.

Nicolas Daws

Position: Goalie
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 203 lbs
Age: 19
Club: Guelph Storm (OHL)
Nationality: Canadian

(Stats source: EliteProspects.com)

Daws is an overager and will turn 20 in December. He went undrafted last year after struggling to the tune of a 3.25 goals-against average and an .893 save percentage in 2018-19. He made remarkable improvements this past season, though, leading the OHL in save percentage and finishing third in the league in goals-against average. NHL Central Scouting ranked him as the top North American goaltender heading into the draft.

His strong play earned him a spot on Canada's world junior team, but he quickly relinquished starting duties to St. Louis Blues prospect Joel Hofer after posting a 5.83 goals-against average and .840 save percentage in two games.

Daws possesses ideal size for an NHL starting goaltender, but some scouts have reservations about his quickness.

What they're saying

"He moves around his crease quite efficiently, squaring up a lot of pucks, and is rarely out of position or needing to scramble," wrote The Athletic's Corey Pronman. "I question how quick he is. His lateral ability is good and he gets around his crease fine, but for the NHL level, I don't know if he can move at the pace needed to get to the tough save."

Highlights