According to a team announcement, the Detroit Red Wings have recalled defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker from the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. In a corresponding roster move, the Red Wings reassigned defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka.
Bernard-Docker, 26, is in his second year with the Red Wings organization after signing as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2025-26 campaign. In his first season with the club, Bernard-Docker primarily played with Albert Johansson on Detroit’s third defensive pairing.
He finished the season with one goal and five points in 63 games, a net-zero rating, and averaged 14:49 of ice time per game.
Unfortunately, an upper-body ailment delayed his start for the 2026-27 campaign. The former first-round pick began the year on Detroit’s injured reserve, eventually being activated on October 8th.
Still, despite being on the roster for over a week, Bernard-Docker never appeared for the Red Wings. Detroit waived him on the 17th and reassigned him the following day.
The right-handed blueliner has appeared in three games for the Griffins since his demotion. It was Bernard-Docker’s first AHL contests since the 2023-24 campaign, when he played for the Belleville Senators, the AHL affiliate of the Ottawa Senators.
Back in Detroit, he’ll likely serve as the team’s seventh defenseman, providing additional depth on the right side of the blue line.
Meanwhile, Sandin-Pellikka will play his first game with Grand Rapids since the end of last season. Once viewed as one of the better defensive prospects in the league, Sandin-Pellikka’s stock has dropped since debuting for the Red Wings last season.
Detroit selected Sandin-Pellikka with the 17th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders’ first-round pick they acquired from the Vancouver Canucks for defenseman Filip Hronek. It immediately looked like a wise selection, as Sandin-Pellikka scored six goals and 17 points in 21 games for Sweden’s U20 team across three IIHF World Junior Championships.
He also continued to improve in the SHL, scoring 12 goals and 29 points in 46 games for Skellefteå AIK in the 2024-25 campaign, one year after winning the SHL Championship.
Unfortunately, Sandin-Pellikka is quickly becoming another example of a team rushing a prominent defensive prospect into the league too quickly. He had a fine offensive showing last season, scoring seven goals and 21 points in 68 games, but his defensive shortcomings were too much to overlook.
The Gällivare, Sweden, native finished with an unsightly -20 rating (tied for the team’s worst) and a ghastly 87.8% on-ice SV% at even strength.
Like the end of last year, it’s clear Sandin-Pellikka hasn’t earned head coach Todd McLellan’s trust. He’s only played half of Detroit’s games this season, registering one assist in those appearances.
Headed back to Grand Rapids, Sandin-Pellikka can look forward to more ice time, at the very least.