Red Wings Abruptly Part Ways With 7-Year NHL Veteran

The Detroit Red Wings have placed seven-year NHL veteran defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker on waivers to address a surplus on their blue line. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the transaction on Saturday as Detroit carried nine defensemen through the start of the season. Bernard-Docker had not dressed in any of the team's first seven games after falling to ninth on the organizational depth chart behind multiple prospects.

Any club claiming Bernard-Docker will assume his $1.6 million annual cap hit through the end of next season. If he clears waivers, Detroit can assign him to the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, which would clear approximately $1.225 million in salary-cap space. The roster adjustment also creates flexibility as the Red Wings monitor unsigned defenseman Simon Edvinsson.