The Detroit Red Wings have signed defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to a two-year contract extension worth $3.2 million, with an average annual value of $1.6 million. The deal, announced on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, keeps the 25-year-old under contract through the 2027-28 NHL season.
Bernard-Docker joined the Red Wings last summer on a one-year, $875,000 deal after going unsigned as a free agent. A first-round pick by the Ottawa Senators in 2018 (26th overall), he split the 2024-25 season between Ottawa and the Buffalo Sabres following a trade deadline deal that sent him to Buffalo in exchange for forwards Dylan Cozens and Joshua Norris. Buffalo chose not to offer him a qualifying offer, opening the door for his move to Detroit.
In his debut season with the Red Wings, Bernard-Docker has appeared in 55 games, posting four assists, a plus-5 rating, 18 penalty minutes, 58 hits, 83 blocks and 37 shots while averaging 15 minutes of ice time per game. He started the year rotating as the seventh defenseman alongside Travis Hamonic but has solidified a bottom-pair role, playing in the last 34 consecutive games. His defensive contributions stand out, including the highest even-strength on-ice save percentage of his career at 95.0%, leading the team by a wide margin. Paired mostly with Albert Johansson at even strength, the duo has posted a 51.0% expected goals share.
The extension underscores Detroit’s focus on building depth on the blue line with reliable, cost-effective players rather than chasing offensive firepower. Bernard-Docker brings strong defensive reliability without much scoring punch—his career totals across 199 NHL games with Ottawa, Buffalo and Detroit show six goals and 22 assists for 28 points, plus a plus-4 rating.
Before turning pro, Bernard-Docker excelled at the University of North Dakota, earning NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year and Second Team All-NCHC honors in 2020-21 with 60 points in 95 games. Internationally, he won gold with Canada at the 2021 IIHF World Championship and the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.
This move stabilizes Detroit’s defense for next season. With Moritz Seider, Ben Chiarot, Albert Johansson, Bernard-Docker and Justin Faulk already locked in, the group returns nearly intact. Simon Edvinsson remains the key pending restricted free agent, giving the Red Wings flexibility amid their push for postseason contention. Hamonic stands as the primary unrestricted free agent likely to depart. The extension reduces roster uncertainty and supports the team’s blue-line depth as they navigate the tight Atlantic Division race.
🚨 SIGNING: The Detroit Red Wings have signed defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker to a 2 year, $1.6 million AAV contract extension.
— Winged Wheel Podcast (@WingedWheelPod) March 25, 2026
What do you think about Yzerman locking up JBD for 2 more years? ⤵️ #LGRW pic.twitter.com/tI6KSgu05S
