The Edmonton Oilers have had themselves a busy summer. They added new players, like Isaac Howard, Andrew Mangiapane, and Curtis Lazar. They also traded wingers Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson in separate deals.
Overall, while the Oilers have made moves this summer, they have yet to address the goaltending position. When looking at their roster, it is fair to say that they could use another goalie option to consider for their NHL roster. One player who could make sense as a trade target for them is New Jersey Devils goalie Nico Daws.
Heavy Sports has a trade proposal that has New Jersey sending Daws to Edmonton in a late-summer move.
Oilers Get:
- Nico Daws
Devils Get:
- 2028 Fourth-Round Pick
- 2026 Seventh-Round Pick
Nico Daws Is a Prime Trade Candidate
The Devils re-signed veteran goalie Jake Allen to a five-year contract this off-season. Since then, Daws has been the subject of trade speculation. With Allen now locked up and Jacob Markstrom being New Jersey’s clear starter, Daws’ chances of making their NHL roster out of camp are very low.
Due to this, Daws picked up the No. 8 on Bleacher Report’s latest NHL Trade Block Big Board.
“The 24-year-old has appeared in 52 games for the Devils since 2022,” Bleacher Report’s Lyle Richardson wrote about Daws. “It was expected he’d take over as Markstrom’s backup if Allen signed elsewhere.
“Daws is in the final season of a two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $812,500,” Richardson added. “He’s no longer waiver-exempt, meaning the Devils could lose him to another club if they attempt to send him to their AHL affiliate in Utica.”
Given the situation the Devils are in with Daws, it would be understandable if they moved him. Thus, he is a player who undoubtedly should be on the Oilers’ radar.
Why Daws to the Oilers Makes Sense
When looking at the Oilers’ goaltending, it is clear that they would benefit from adding another option to consider. If the Oilers acquired Daws, he would create some healthy competition for Edmonton’s backup spot with Calvin Pickard.
Daws demonstrated good upside this past season with the Devils, too. While he only appeared in six games with New Jersey in 2024-25, he undoubtedly took advantage when given the chance to play with the NHL club. In six games with New Jersey in 2024-25, he posted a 3-1-0 record, a .939 save percentage, a 1.60 goals-against average, and one shutout. In 52 career NHL games over three seasons, he has a 22-23-1 record, a .898 save percentage, and a 2.98 goals-against average.
Ultimately, with the Oilers desperately needing help between the pipes, taking a chance on an intriguing youngster like Daws would make sense. The potential for him to be a full-time NHL goalie is there, and perhaps he could become just that by joining Edmonton.
Why Oilers Could Land Daws With This Trade Offer
With Daws being waiver-eligible, the Devils are not in a position to expect a significant return for him in a potential trade. Because of this, the Oilers offering the Devils their 2028 fourth-round pick and 2026 seventh-round pick could be enough to bring Daws to Edmonton.
Recently, the Vancouver Canucks traded goalie prospect Arturs Silovs to the Pittsburgh Penguins for a 2027 fourth-round pick and AHL forward Chase Stillman. Like Daws, Silovs was now eligible for waivers and the odd goalie out on Vancouver’s roster. Thus, this trade stands out as a good comparable of what a Daws deal could look like.
New Oilers Trade Proposal Adds Intriguing Goalie