Red Wings Hand Out Multi-Year Extension to Jacob Bernard-Docker

In his first season with the Detroit Red Wings, third-pairing defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker has impressed enough to convince the Wings to sign him up for more. As a pending RFA on an $875,000 one-year deal, Bernard-Docker has earned himself a two-year extension from Detroit, worth $3.2 million. He nearly doubles his salary to $1.6M annually.

UPDATE: The #RedWings have signed Jacob Bernard-Docker to a two-year contract extension with an AAV of $1.6M. pic.twitter.com/FPlAjNMrv0
— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 25, 2026

The 25-year-old d-man has four assists and a plus/minus rating of +5 in his 55 games, with 83 blocked shots and 58 hits, while averaging 15:00 minutes time on ice.

The 6’1″ right-shot Bernard-Docker is a defensive defenseman who provides a physical presence and is good with the stick.

He was a first-round pick (26th overall) by the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He spent four and a half seasons in Canada's capital to start his career, then was traded to the Buffalo Sabres last season. Buffalo did not tender him a contract as an RFA, and Detroit moved in to sign him as a free agent last July.

In 199 career NHL games, Bernard-Docker has recorded six goals and 28 points along with 324 blocked shots and a +4 rating.

The Wings now have only one remaining pending RFA on the roster, Simon Edvinsson. The only other blueliner who isn't signed for next season is Travis Hamonic, a pending UFA.