Jacob Bernard-Docker Learns His Fate On Sunday.

The Detroit Red Wings have dodged a bullet.

On Saturday the Red Wings surprised many when they made the decision to place former first round pick Jacob Bernard-Docker on waivers. Bernard-Docker had not played a game this season prior to being waived but is on a relatively affordable contract for a depth defenseman, especially in this new salary cap era, leaving many to suspect that Bernard-Docker would be claimed by a rival team.

That has however not come to pass with National Hockey League insider Elliotte Friedman reporting on Sunday that Bernard-Docker has cleared waivers.

Bernard-Docker has bounced around a few teams in recent years going from the Ottawa Senators to the Buffalo Sabres and subsequently the Detroit Red Wings in the span of just two seasons. The fact that he cleared waivers despite carrying a cap hit of just $1.6 million per season on a two year deal may be an indication that teams around the league no longer see the same potential in the 26 year old blue liner that they did when he was selected 26th overall at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Bernard-Docker is coming off a 63 game season with the Red Wings in which he had 1 goal and 4 assists for 5 total points, and may be headed for a trip down to the American Hockey League after clearing waivers today.