What Can Bernard-Docker Offer to Red Wings?

Of all the moves made by the Detroit Red Wings during the recent NHL UFA period, the addition of defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker was the move that flew under the radar.

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman certainly wasn’t making any attempt to oversell the impact Bernard-Docket might have on his team.

“Jacob Bernard-Docker on defense gives us a little bit of depth,” Yzerman said. “Kind of not a big-name signing or whatever, but has been an effective player in his time in Ottawa and particularly plays hard and competes.”

UPDATE: The #RedWings have signed Jacob Bernard-Docker to a one-year contract with an AAV of $875,000. pic.twitter.com/SrFmZhlrxk

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 1, 2025

It’s that latter element in which Bernard-Docker may be offering the most value in a Detroit uniform. Among Yzerman’s stated goals during the offseason was to make his team heavier and harder to play against.

Bernard-Docker enjoys playing a physical style.

“Just being hard to play against, being annoying and kind of always on guys and trying to be physical when I can,” Bernard-Docker listed as his objective when he’s on the ice.

At the same time, Bernard-Docker admits that when it comes to that element of his game, he needs to find more consistency in his performance.

“That’s another part of my game in the NHL, I feel like maybe hasn’t been as consistent as I want it to be, is just like the physicality aspect,” Bernard-Docker said. “And there’s been some games where I think I’ve shown that I can do that. Other games maybe are where it’s not as apparent.”

Docker Can Also Help Red Wings PK

Bernard-Docker may also prove of value to the club in another area where the Red Wings came up lacking during the 2024-25 NHL campaign. He’s viewed in NHL circles as being a more than capable penalty killer. Detroit was last in the NHL in that department last season. The Red Wings were successfully killing off just 70.1% of the club’s shorthanded situations.

“I think that’s one area that I was really able to develop and show kind of when I played in the minors and is an area that I think maybe I haven’t shown as much as I’d like to in the NHL yet,” Bernard-Docker said of his work on the PK. “And I think it’s an area that I know is a really strong part of my game.

“I’m willing to block shots. I think I’m pretty good with my stick.”

The Sabres didn't qualify Bernard-Docker (surprising to us) and then we went pretty cheap to the Red Wings. Very low risk move here by Detroit and it might result in finding a solid bottom pair defenseman. #NHL #NHLFreeAgency #LGRW @MaxTermPod @CapWages pic.twitter.com/pmQKdB4oCT

— AFP Analytics (@AFPAnalytics) July 1, 2025

Another factor that will make Bernard-Docker popular – he’s a right-shot defender. The only other right shots among the Detroit rearguard are Moritz Seider and Justin Holl.

“That definitely kind of went into my decision,” Bernard-Docker admitted. “I think I can hopefully fit on that right side and be a guy that’s a good penalty killer, a good, solid player that’s tough to play against.”

Docker figures to be battling with Holl and Erik Gustafsson for ice time as part of Detroit’s third defensive pairing.