After taking Brady Tkachuk fourth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, the Ottawa Senators were hoping to hit on their next first-round draft pick they had in the draft.
Twenty-two selections later, the Senators selected defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker. Anytime a player gets taken in the first round, the team has high hopes, but Bernard-Docker's tenure in Ottawa came to an end yesterday.
Bernard-Docker was traded to the Buffalo Sabres along with Josh Norris. Looking back at the draft in 2018, the Senators missed out on a steady defenseman who has turned into a solid defensive defenseman today.
Senators passed on Rasmus Sandin for Bernard-Docker
Three selections later after Bernard-Docker was taken, the Toronto Maple Leafs selected Rasmus Sandin. While Sandin was the second to last defenseman taken in the first round of the 2018 draft, he's making his presence known today with the Washington Capitals.
Sandin has 23 points in 63 games for the Capitals this season, but he is making his presence known on the defensive side. Sandin's current +18 rating has him ninth among the Capitals roster, and his 93 blocked shots are the fourth most on the Capitals. Sandin has turned into one of the most underappreciated players this season for the Capitals.
Sandin was the lowest first-round draft pick in 2018 to record over 100 points in his career. In 290 career games, Sandin has 109 points at 25 years old. The same can't be said for Bernard-Docker at 24 years old.
Bernard-Docker's career has disappointed for being a first-round draft pick compared to Sandin. In 129 career games, Bernard-Docker has recorded just 20 points. Four of Bernard-Docker's 20 career points were from this season.
Bernard-Docker's limited playing time this season in 25 games did put some concern on what his Senators future would look like. While Bernard-Docker didn't play in all of 2025 for the Senators due to an ankle injury, he would mainly be inserted into the lineup when injuries hit the Senators defense when he was healthy to play. Over one week ago, Bernard-Docker was in rumors to have some interest from the Nashville Predators, but was traded to the Sabres.
Moving forward, Bernard-Docker will have something to prove in Buffalo with being on the final year of his contract. Dennis Gilbert was acquired by the Senators in the Buffalo trade, and he will have something to prove as well with being on an expiring contract. Gilbert has recorded five assists in 25 games this season at 28 years old.