Jets sign Garrett Brown to entry-level contract

Brown’s signing comes less than a week after he and the Denver Pioneers defeated the Wisconsin Badgers to win the 2026 NCAA Men’s Hockey Championship.

Brown joins a cast of Pioneers who have already signed their ELCs. Defensemen Boston Buckberger (Columbus Blue Jackets), Eric Pohlkamp (San Jose Sharks) and forward Rieger Lorenz (Minnesota Wild) have all signed NHL deals since bringing home the program’s record 11th national championship.

The San Jose, Calif. native was taken by the Jets in the fourth round, 99th overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft. He isn’t the most offensively sourced blueliner in the game, but he’s excellent at moving the puck out of his own zone. His size and work in his own zone have made him a promising prospect, and one of DU head coach David Carle’s most relied-upon pieces on the back end.

The 22-year-old is coming off his most complete season with the Pioneers. In 34 games, he scored two goals and 12 assists for 14 points, with a plus/minus of +12.

Across three seasons at Denver, Brown potted four goals and 22 assists for 26 points in 84 career games. He won two national championships and NCHC titles.

Prior to his NCAA career, he played two full seasons in the United States Hockey League, spending time with both the Sioux City Musketeers and Waterloo Black Hawks. He posted 34 points in 117 games in the junior ranks.

Brown has a small international career, playing one game for the United States in the 2022 World Junior A Challenge, which saw the Americans win gold.