Justin Braun

Justin Timothy Braun (born February 10, 1987) is an American professional ice hockey player currently under contract with the Straubing Tigers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Braun was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and grew up nearby in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. He previously played for the San Jose Sharks, New York Rangers, and the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career Amateur Braun was born in Vadnais Heights, Minnesota, and began playing ice hockey at the urging of his older brother, Eric. He attended White Bear Lake Area High School in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, making the varsity ice hockey team in his sophomore year. Braun helped lead White Bear to two state tournament appearances, After high school, he spent two seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he scored 13 points (two goals and 11 assists) across 69 games.

On May 24, 2006, the University of Massachusetts Amherst announced that Braun and five other players would join the UMass Minutemen ice hockey that fall. He scored his first college point on October 13, 2006, assisting Kevin Jarman in a 3–2 victory over the Sacred Heart Pioneers. His first collegiate goal came on January 27, against Boston University. At the end of the season, Braun was chosen as the Minutemen's Rookie of the Year, with four goals and seven assists, Braun was selected in the seventh round, 201st overall, of the 2007 NHL entry draft by the San Jose Sharks of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Professional In the 2010–11 season, Braun made his NHL debut November 26, 2010 against the Vancouver Canucks. His first point came the next night in a game against the Edmonton Oilers. His first NHL goal was in his fourth game, on December 2, 2010 against Pascal Leclaire of the Ottawa Senators. On October 4, 2013 against the Canucks, Braun scored his first goal since February 21, 2012, an 85-game stretch without a goal.

After completing his ninth season with San Jose in the 2018–19 season, on June 18, 2019, Braun was traded by the Sharks to the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a 2019 second round draft pick and 2020 third-round selection.

On October 5, 2020, Braun opted to forgo free agency, signing a two-year, $3.6 million contract extension with the Flyers.

During the 2021–22 season, with the Flyers out of playoff contention, Braun was traded to the New York Rangers in exchange for a 2023 third-round selection on March 21, 2022. Adding a dependable veteran presence to the blueline, Braun was a mainstay throughout the playoffs, registering 1 assist in 19 games to help the Rangers reach the Conference Finals.

A free agent from the Rangers, Braun returned to the Philadelphia Flyers, signing a one-year, $1 million contract on July 13, 2022. Braun initially announced his retirement from professional ice hockey on April 24, 2023. He appeared in 961 NHL games, recording 199 regular-season and 16 postseason points in the process.

After reconsidering his retirement, Braun opted to extend his playing career, signing a one-year contract with German club Straubing Tigers of the DEL on June 27, 2023.

Personal life Braun is married to Jessica Lysiak, a private chef, who is the daughter of former NHL All-star Tom Lysiak. She competed on Season 4 of the American version of the television show MasterChef in 2013, finishing in 3rd place. They have two daughters, Madison (born January 2016) and Summer Grace (born June 2021). He has two brothers, Eric and Bryan. His parents are Paul Braun and Carol Reamer.

Career statistics Regular season and playoffs Regular season Playoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2003–04 White Bear Lake Area High School HS-MN — — — — — — — — — — 2004–05 White Bear Lake Area High School HS-MN — — — — — — — — — — 2004–05 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 10 0 0 0 2 — — — — — 2005–06 Green Bay Gamblers USHL 59 2 11 13 69 3 0 0 0 2 2006–07 UMass Minutemen HE 39 4 10 14 20 — — — — — 2007–08 UMass Minutemen HE 36 4 16 20 20 — — — — — 2008–09 UMass Minutemen HE 39 7 16 23 50 — — — — — 2009–10 UMass Minutemen HE 36 8 23 31 30 — — — — — 2009–10 Worcester Sharks AHL 3 0 3 3 0 11 0 3 3 4 2010–11 Worcester Sharks AHL 34 5 18 23 8 — — — — — 2010–11 San Jose Sharks NHL 28 2 9 11 2 1 0 0 0 0 2011–12 Worcester Sharks AHL 6 0 3 3 0 — — — — — 2011–12 San Jose Sharks NHL 66 2 9 11 23 5 0 0 0 15 2012–13 Tappara SM-l 6 0 3 3 2 — — — — — 2012–13 San Jose Sharks NHL 41 0 7 7 6 11 0 1 1 0 2013–14 San Jose Sharks NHL 82 4 13 17 20 7 1 1 2 7 2014–15 San Jose Sharks NHL 70 1 22 23 48 — — — — — 2015–16 San Jose Sharks NHL 80 4 19 23 36 24 2 5 7 6 2016–17 San Jose Sharks NHL 81 4 9 13 28 6 0 1 1 0 2017–18 San Jose Sharks NHL 81 5 28 33 28 10 0 1 1 4 2018–19 San Jose Sharks NHL 78 2 14 16 35 20 0 1 1 8 2019–20 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 62 3 16 19 18 16 0 2 2 2 2020–21 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 53 1 5 6 18 — — — — — 2021–22 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 61 5 11 16 36 — — — — — 2021–22 New York Rangers NHL 8 1 1 2 0 19 0 1 1 6 2022–23 Philadelphia Flyers NHL 51 0 2 2 19 — — — — — 2023–24 Straubing Tigers DEL 52 7 19 26 12 8 1 0 1 0 2024–25 Straubing Tigers DEL 51 3 15 18 14 7 0 3 3 2 NHL totals 842 34 165 199 317 119 3 13 16 48

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2012 United States WC 7th 8 0 0 0 2 Senior totals 8 0 0 0 2

Awards and honors Award Year College All-Hockey East Rookie Team 2006–07 All-Hockey East Second Team 2008–09 All-Hockey East First Team 2009–10 AHCA East Second-Team All-American 2009–10