The post Red Wings Review: Berard-Docker Earns Confidence At Blue Line appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.
Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn ImagesTimothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Age: 25 (turns 26 in June)
Contract status: Signed through 2027-28, $1,600,000 per season
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Last season’s contribution: one goal, four assists in 63 games
Grade: B
Past
Bernard-Docker split the 2024-25 season with Ottawa and Buffalo and wasn’t tendered by the Sabres, which led to his signing with Detroit as a free agent last July. His only goal last season came against the Sabres during the Red Wings’ push for a playoff spot. He showed enough during the regular season to earn a two-year contract extension in late March that nearly doubled his salary.
A former first round pick by the Senators, Bernard-Docker fit in with Albert Johansson on the third defensive pair in Detroit.
“Dock had a tough start,” coach Todd 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. When we went to a steady rotation, he felt like he wasn’t going to be in and out, and he really settled in. Dock’s biggest asset is just his simplicity. He’s physically strong. He might not be 6’6”, but whatever he has is strong. He wins a lot of, both him and Albert in that pair, a lot of tight battles often against bigger players. So, he’s been good for us. Good penalty killer, too.”
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McLellan added that he feels the duo of Bernard-Docker and Johansson complement each other well.
“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. “So, between the two of them, they play well together.”
Present
Bernard-Docker has a cannon of a shot, but hasn’t been a big part of the Red Wings offense, with just five points last year. He graded out even in plus-minus at 0 for the season.
Future
His 63 games last season were the second-most of his career, and the Red Wings are counting on hims to continue to develop, as evidenced by the two-year contract extension.
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“For me, it’s just trying to play solid and the best version of my game that I can be every game,” said Bernard-Docker. “Just solid defensively, moving pucks, being hard to play against. Those are kind of my core values as a player, so I just try to bring that.”
He will be Detroit’s top eight, but he will have to battle for playing time, probably with William Wallinder, but maybe with Anton Johansson and/or Axel Sandin Pellikka
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