High hopes were on defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker when the Ottawa Senators selected him with the 26th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Bernard-Docker had some struggles early into his career, but started to show progress last season for the Senators. Then, Bernard-Docker suffered an ankle injury in January 2025. Two months later, Bernard-Docker was traded by the Senators to the Buffalo Sabres on March 7 in part of the Dylan Cozens-Josh Norris trade.
Despite making progress in Buffalo, the Sabres didn't give Bernard-Docker a qualifying offer. Bernard-Docker then became an unrestricted free agent this past free agency.