Jacob Bernard-Docker arrived to the Buffalo Sabres as part of the blockbuster Dylan Cozens trade in March. Despite 15 mostly successful appearances for the franchise, general manager Kevyn Adams shockingly decided to non-tender the restricted free-agent defenseman ahead of July 1.
"Where his projected salary was going to come out and where we had him potentially slotted (on the roster) — in the eighth spot, call it — with the moves that we had made over the last few days before it, just felt like that didn't make sense," Adams told reporters after the start of NHL free agency.
Bernard-Docker proceeded to sign a one-year, $875,000 contract with the Atlantic Division rival Detroit Red Wings, who will retain his RFA rights next offseason.
The Sabres, who are set to enter the 2025-26 season with $5.2 million in unused salary-cap space, instead signed Zac Jones to a one-year, $900,000 contract to serve as the No. 8 defenseman.
Reviewing JBD's Buffalo tenure
Bernard-Docker thrived during his story stay in the City of Good Neighbors. He tallied one goal and three assists across 15 games. He also racked up 25 blocked shots and nine hits while compiling a plus-three rating.
The 25-year-old Canadian's underlying numbers were even more impressive. He posted a 52.1 expected goals for percentage (xGF%), which ranked second among Sabres defensemen behind only superstar Rasmus Dahlin, per Natural Stat Trick.
For an organization that's struggled mightily to find defensive depth in recent years — it continues to re-sign Jacob Bryson as its top reserve option despite his consistently underwhelming results — it was surprising Adams gave up on JBD so quickly.
Bernard-Docker is seemingly using Buffalo's decision as motivation with the Wings.
"For me, it's just trying to find a spot where I can come in and carve out a role," Bernard-Docker told Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News. "I guess Buffalo didn't quite see that, I guess with the D-men they have there or whatever, so I'm hoping to come in and be someone that can be a guy that is relied upon every night and just be real solid, physical and play my game."
Why the non-tender decision made no sense
The entire situation reeks of the Sabres being cheap, which has become quite common over the past handful of years.
Adams was fearful of Bernard-Docker taking the team to arbitration but, even if that's how the situation played out, it's hard to imagine he would have received more than $1.5 million. For a team that's so far away from the cap, the difference in financial impact is negligible.
Meanwhile, the Sabres signed Jones to take the No. 8 spot, but here's the problem: The former New York Rangers blueliner is another left-shot defenseman. That means six of the team's eight players at the position play the left side naturally.
Bernard-Docker is a more valuable right-shot defender. Lindy Ruff has long preferred to have balanced defense pairs, and having JBD in a reserve role would have given Buffalo's head coach far more flexibility, especially once injuries begin to arise.
Alas, the bottom line is the Sabres weakened their defense corps and now don't have a proven RHD backup option all in order to save about $600,000.
JBD's departure could haunt the Sabres
Bernard-Docker, a 2018 first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators, will get his chance to deliver some revenge against both his former teams in Detroit. The Wings, Sabres and Sens will be battling for playoff berths out of the Atlantic Division all season.
Let's make one thing clear: JBD isn't a franchise savior. Keeping him wouldn't have guaranteed Buffalo would end it playoff drought and it's unclear whether the results from the small sample size last season would have carried over to 2025-26.
Yet, the Sabres no longer deserve the benefit of a doubt. They've left far too much cap space on the table, sacrificing a roster upgrade or two to keep more money in the pocket of team owner Terry Pegula, to believe these type of moves are anything more than penny-pinching.
Bernard-Docker deserved another year in Buffalo. He's a far better No. 7 defense option than either Bryson or Jones, and being a right-shot defenseman was an added bonus.
Instead, the 6-foot-1 University of North Dakota product gets a chance to earn a full-time role on the Red Wings blue line, and he'll also have an opportunity to make the Sabres' front office look awfully bad if he produces a breakout campaign.
This season's first matchup between Detroit and Buffalo is scheduled for Oct. 22 at the KeyBank Center.