Waiver Watch: Could the Maple Leafs Pounce if Nico Daws Becomes Available?
Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Goaltender Nico Daws may be an early waiver candidate according to analyst Jason Gregor, so could the Maple Leafs pick him up as a way to insure their crease?
The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking pretty good when it comes to their goaltending for the 2025-26 season. Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll are expected to lead the charge meanwhile Dennis Hildeby is going to be looked at to help out in case of emergency.
Hildeby is a bit unproven though, with only a handful of NHL starts and looking at both Woll and Stolarz's injury history, there's some concerns.
Jason Gregor Raises Waiver Question Around Devils Goalie Nico Daws
Which is why they should look to target a goaltender who could be a potential early season waiver wire candidate, that being New Jersey's Nico Daws.
Daws was mentioned by Daily Faceoff contributor and analyst Jason Gregor as a player who has garnered a lot of interest from teams around the league needing some extra help in the crease:
There's Nico Daws, does he get through waivers?; I've heard some rumblings of teams looking for a guy, they could get him
Daws, 24, was drafted 84th overall by the Devils in 2020 and has put up decent numbers so far in his short career.
In 52 games he has posted a 22-23-1 record with a 2.98 GAA and .898 SV% but last season had a very impressive 3-1-0 record with a 1.60 GAA and .939 SV%.
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If Toronto were to claim Daws, he would instantly become their most reliable third-string goaltender and be able to help out with the Marlies as well. He's the same age as Hildeby, and while he's not 6'7, he's still a very respectable 6'4.
Plus he offers more legitimate NHL experience than Hildeby, who could be dangled as a potential trade piece if Toronto were to pursue a top-six forward; many teams would love a young, hulking goaltender with such high potential.
Again, the team risks pulling a Tuukka Rask with Hildeby and he becomes a stud, but if his departure necessitates Toronto bringing in someone who can help out now and in the playoffs; it might be worth pulling the trigger knowing Daws can handle things.
With Anthony Stolarz likely to sign an extension, and Joseph Woll already locked down for the next few years, the goaltending situation in Toronto is refreshingly solid.
But adding Daws would not only ensure that goaltender rigamarole stays afloat, but might end up leading to one of the most important trades in recent memory.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 18 | 1020 ANSWERS Waiver Watch: Could the Maple Leafs Pounce if Nico Daws Becomes Available? Should Toronto claim Nico Daws off waivers? | ||
| Yes | 305 | 29.9 % |
| No | 715 | 70.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
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