DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills posted an article about Red Wings free agent signing Jacob Bernard-Docker today, noting that Bernard-Docker is still looking to establish himself as an everyday NHL player at 25 years of age:
“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.”
Continued; we’ll find out this fall whether JBD can break into the Red Wings’ top six on defense. That’s his stated goal, and the 6,’ 190-pound right-shooting defenseman will give his compatriots a run for their money.
