Jonas Brodin

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Brodin's journey began with an unconventional start; he preferred soccer until age nine before returning to hockey at fourteen. This late adoption didn't hinder his rise, as he was ranked third among eligible European skaters by NHL Central Scouting prior to the 2011 draft. Playing his first full SHL season at just seventeen with Färjestad BK, he recorded four assists in 42 games, earning praise from scout Grant Sonier for his ability to process pressure and make excellent first passes. Despite signing an entry-level contract immediately after being drafted, the Wild wisely sent him back to Sweden for another year of development. His third season there saw improvement with eight assists in 49 regular-season games and two goals in 11 playoff contests. This European foundation prepared him for a rapid NHL transition, where he would eventually pair with veteran Ryan Suter and become the youngest defenceman in the league during the 2012–13 season.

In Their Own Story

The 2012–13 season tested Brodin's resilience early. After recording four points in his first eight AHL games with the Houston Aeros, he suffered a broken clavicle from a legal hit by Taylor Hall on November 2. Though Hall initially received a match penalty and suspension, it was rescinded the next day once the hit was deemed legal. Brodin underwent surgery that month, missing over a month and a half before returning for one game with the Aeros. Recalled to Minnesota on January 24, 2013, he made his NHL debut the following night, recording an assist in a 5–3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Throughout this rookie campaign, Brodin was often paired alongside Ryan Suter and played more minutes per game than any other rookie in the league. On March 14, he scored his first NHL goal in a 5–3 win over the Colorado Avalanche. He finished with two goals and nine assists for 11 points in 45 games, leading all rookies in average time on ice and becoming one of only eight first-year skaters in League history to average more than 23 minutes per game.

Reader's Guide

Brodin's sophomore season began with immediate impact, scoring two goals and three assists in his first seven games while averaging 25:16 minutes of ice time. However, a broken cheekbone near the end of October forced him to miss ten days before returning on November 1. He finished that 2013–14 season with eight goals and 11 assists. The following year saw him sign a six-year, $25 million contract extension on October 12, 2014, just after tallying one assist in his first two games of the 2014–15 campaign. His season was interrupted by a League-wide mumps outbreak, causing him to miss seven games between November 13 and November 26. By March 2015, journalists described him as one of the NHL's most mobile and best puck-handling defencemen. He placed 13th in Lady Byng Trophy voting and tied for 18th in Norris Trophy voting. Subsequent seasons brought injuries like a broken foot in February 2016 and finger issues in January 2017, yet he maintained strong production, culminating in a career-high 28 points during the 2019–20 season before signing a seven-year, $42 million extension on September 15, 2020.

Did You Know?

• Brodin quit soccer at age nine and only returned to ice hockey at age fourteen.
• He was the youngest defenceman in the NHL during the 2012–13 season.
• Brodin became the eighth rookie in NHL history to average more than 23 minutes of ice time per game.
• He scored his first NHL goal on March 14, 2013, against the Colorado Avalanche.
• Despite being a top-three finalist in some scouts' minds for years, Brodin was not named a Calder Trophy finalist.

Early Life and Unconventional Origins

Jonas Brodin was born on July 12, 1993, in Karlstad, Sweden, to Stefan and Kristina. He grew up with siblings Alexandra and Christoffer. Unlike many hockey stars who start young, Brodin preferred soccer and quit the sport around age nine. He only returned to ice hockey at fourteen when forced to choose between the two sports. His family has strong ties to the game; his brother Christoffer played for Nor IK before retiring in 2012, while cousins Hannes and Jesper Ewen continue to play professionally.

Draft Hype and European Development

Brodin spent the entirety of the 2010–11 Swedish Hockey League season as a 17-year-old with Färjestad BK, recording four assists and 12 penalty minutes in 42 games. Before the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, he was ranked third among eligible European skaters by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. Scout Grant Sonier called him an 'exceptional puck retrieval and transitional defenceman' with the ability to process pressure. After a second season where he improved to eight assists in 49 games, Brodin was selected 10th overall by the Minnesota Wild. He signed a three-year entry-level contract on July 12, 2011, but returned to Sweden for another developmental year with Färjestad BK, adding two goals over 11 playoff games.

Rookie Resilience and Immediate Impact

The NHL lockout sent Brodin to the Houston Aeros of the AHL for the 2012–13 season. He recorded four points in his first eight games before breaking his clavicle on November 2 after a legal hit by Taylor Hall. After surgery and a six-week recovery, he was recalled on January 24, 2013. He made his NHL debut the next night with an assist against Detroit. Paired with Ryan Suter, he played more minutes per game than any other rookie that season. On March 14, he scored his first goal against Colorado. Brodin finished with 11 points (two goals, nine assists) in 45 games, leading all rookies in ice time and becoming the eighth rookie ever to average over 23 minutes per game. He made the NHL All-Rookie Team but was not a Calder Trophy finalist.

Defensive Reliability and Career Milestones

In his sophomore year, assistant coach Scott Stevens praised Brodin's gap control, stating he 'doesn't back up at all.' Despite a broken cheekbone in October 2013 and a mumps outbreak in late 2014 that sidelined him for seven games, Brodin remained a key player. He signed a six-year, $25 million extension on October 12, 2014. By March 2015, he was hailed as one of the league's best puck-handling defencemen, finishing 13th in Lady Byng voting and tied for 18th in Norris voting. Injuries struck again with a broken foot in February 2016 and a finger injury in January 2017. He reached a career-high 28 points in the 2019–20 season, leading to a seven-year, $42 million extension on September 15, 2020. In December 2023, he missed 17 games due to a broken thumb from a hit by Evander Kane, returning on January 15 with an assist in a 5–0 win over the New York Islanders.

International Play

Brodin represented Sweden at the 2024 World Championship, where he won a bronze medal.