New Jersey Devils notes: Daws slips through waivers, Glendening set to sign

Nico Daws went unclaimed after a disappointing preseason. Plus, Luke Glendening has earned a roster spot.

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A couple of New Jersey Devils notes as we inch closer to their season opener:

Nico Daws slides through the cracks 🛝

There was speculation from insiders that Nico Daws was a goaltender who could generate some interest when he inevitably landed on waivers.

Perhaps aided by some other young netminders with NHL experience also being waived (Cayden Primeau, for example), Daws went unclaimed and was free to be assigned to Utica. I wasn’t overly surprised.

Yes, Daws has 52 games of NHL experience. Yes, he was a former 3rd round pick and fairly highly regarded prospect. Yes, he’s still just 24 and may not have peaked. Even so, there were plenty of reasons not to claim him.

Daws has posted a sub .895 save percentage in back-to-back AHL campaigns. Utica has not had a good team in front of him but you still expect better than that from someone you’d be claiming to be a backup in the NHL.

He didn’t do himself any favors with a poor showing in preseason play. Not to mention, his $850K salary is fully guaranteed this season.

If a claiming team were to waive him in effort to get him to the AHL, they’d be on the hook for that contract. It wouldn’t break the bank, of course, but it’s not nothing to pay for someone on your minor league roster.

Daws going unclaimed was a small win for the Devils. They now have a No. 3 with meaningful NHL experience, which is always a plus when rostering two 35+ goaltenders.

They also have someone competent to pair with the promising Jakub Malek, giving Utica a solid tandem that should provide the kids in front of them confidence they can play their game without every mistake ending up in the back of the net.

Glendening earns a contract 📝