Excited to be part of the mix, Bernard-Docker sees a lot of potential in Red Wings’ talent and trajectory

DETROIT -- In signing Jacob Bernard-Docker to a one-year free-agent contract on July 1, the Detroit Red Wings not only added depth and physicality on the back end, but a former first-round pick who has a strong internal drive to prove himself to his new club in the 2025-26 season.

“There’s a lot of potential there, and [Detroit] is a team on the right trajectory,” Bernard-Docker said in his introductory Zoom call with the media last month. “I’m super excited to go there, show what I got and hopefully be a contributor.”

Originally selected by Ottawa at No. 26 overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Jacob Bernard-Docker split last season between the Senators and Buffalo Sabres and finished with eight points (two goals, six assists) as well as a plus-5 rating in 40 games.

“Jacob Bernard-Docker gives us a little bit of depth on defense… an effective player in his time in Ottawa in particular,” Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman said last month. “He plays hard and competes.”

Having a strong sense of his identity is as a player -- someone who can be “annoying and kind of always on guys” -- helps Bernard-Docker set goals for himself that he works hard to achieve.

“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 the physicality aspect,” Jacob Bernard-Docker said. “And there’s been some games where I think I’ve shown I can do that.”

Bernard-Docker said he also wants to show he can be a reliable piece on Detroit’s penalty kill this season.

"That's one area where I was really looking to develop and show how I played in the minors and maybe I haven't shown as much as I'd like to in the NHL yet," Bernard-Docker said. "It's an area that I think is a strong part of my game. I'm willing to block shots and I'm pretty good on my stick.”

Set to play for his third Atlantic Division club in his NHL career, Bernard-Docker will get to see things from a different angle this season. The 25-year-old said he thinks there are similarities with the Red Wings compared to the Senators and Sabres in terms of each club’s collection of talent.

"In a way it's a similar group to where I was in Ottawa, with a real good young core,” Bernard-Docker said. “Buffalo had a real good core. [Detroit is] on that edge of breaking out. There’s a lot of real good players on the team.”

The 2025-26 Red Wings will take the ice for the first time for their annual Training Camp at Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City, Mich., on Sept. 18, and Bernard-Docker, like the rest of the club, is eager to get back into action.

“I’m hoping to come in and be someone that can be a guy that is relied upon every night,” Bernard-Docker said. “Just be real solid, physical and play my game.”