The Detroit Red Wings announced on Mar. 26 that defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker has signed a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $1.6 million.
Bernard-Docker said the decision to stay in Detroit was straightforward for him, citing his positive experience and comfort with the team this season. “It was a no-brainer for me,” Bernard-Docker said following practice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center. “I’ve loved playing here this year and love the group here. I feel super comfortable, so I’m really excited to get that done.”
Through his first 55 games with the Red Wings, Bernard-Docker has contributed four assists and maintained a plus-5 rating while averaging 15 minutes of ice time per game. Head coach Todd McLellan said Bernard-Docker has demonstrated growth throughout the season and earned trust from the coaching staff. “Dock had a tough start,” McLellan said. “Part of that start is his doing and the other half of it is us trying to figure out a way to get confident in him… Dock’s biggest asset is just his simplicity. He’s physically strong… So, he’s been good for us. Good penalty killer, too.”
McLellan also noted that pairing Bernard-Docker with Albert Johansson over recent games has worked well due to their complementary skills: “Dock is heavy and strong, and Albert’s got good mobility, good escape skills when he’s under pressure and some good vision up ice,” McLellan said.
Bernard-Docker joined Detroit as a free agent on July 1 after previous stints with Ottawa Senators and Buffalo Sabres since entering the league in 2020-21 as a first-round draft pick (No. 26 overall). The defenseman emphasized consistency as central to his approach: “For me, it’s just trying to play solid and the best version of my game that I can be every game,” he said.
The Red Wings are one of six Original Six teams in the National Hockey League according to their official website. They represent Detroit, Michigan according to their official website and host games in downtown Detroit according to their official website. The team has won 11 Stanley Cup championships according to their official website—the most among American NHL franchises—and upholds what they describe as “a legacy of excellence” according to their official website.
Reflecting on signing during Detroit’s centennial campaign—the second blueliner after Ben Chiarot recently extended—Bernard-Docker spoke about honoring team history: “There’s so much history here,” he said. “It’s just really an honor to put on the jersey every night, and happy to do it for two more years.”
