Josh Jacobs (ice hockey)

Joshua Jacobs (born February 15, 1996) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected in the second round, 41st overall, by the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career
As a Michigan native, Jacobs originally played in the Detroit Honeybaked U16 program in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League before he was selected in the 2012 Ontario Hockey League (OHL) Priority Selection, 72nd overall, by the Sarnia Sting.

Jacobs opted to continue his development in the United States Hockey League (USHL), joining the Indiana Ice in the 2012–13 season and later committing to play collegiate hockey with Michigan State University of the Big Ten Conference. In his second season with Indiana, Jacobs helped contribute with 23 points in 56 games to claim the Clark Cup. Jacobs was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the second round, 41st overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

In his freshman season with the Spartans in 2014–15, Jacobs registering 9 assists in 35 games from the blueline, earning a selection to the Conference All-Rookie Team. Jacobs opted to conclude his collegiate tenure after his freshman season, choosing to continue his development through major junior hockey in signing with the Sting on June 1, 2015.

In his solitary 2015–16 season in the OHL, Jacobs scored 4 goals and 24 points in 67 games. Jacobs added 5 assists in the Sting’s seven-game series defeat against Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. Upon the Sting's elimination, Jacobs signed a three-year, entry-level contract with New Jersey on April 9, 2016. He immediately joined the Devils' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Albany Devils, on an amateur tryout (ATO) basis for the remainder of the season, making his professional debut to close out the regular season.

During the final year of his entry-level contract, while in his second season with the Binghamton Devils in the 2018–19 campaign, Jacobs received his first recall to the NHL by the injury-hit Devils on March 21, 2019. He made his NHL debut with the Devils on the same day in a 5-1 defeat to the Boston Bruins at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. He was then returned to the AHL with Binghamton following the game.

As a free agent from the Devils after six seasons within the organization, Jacobs was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on August 4, 2021. After attending the Hurricanes training camp, Jacobs was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, for the duration of the 2021–22 season. In a regular defensive role on the blueline, Jacobs recorded 4 goals and 15 points through 51 regular season games. In the post-season, Jacobs posted career highs with 2 points through 18 games to help the Wolves capture the Calder Cup.

Jacobs left the Hurricanes organization as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Colorado Avalanche for the season on July 13, 2022. Assigned to the Colorado Eagles for the duration of his contract with the Avalanche, Jacobs posted 4 goals and 10 points through 43 regular season games in the AHL. He added a goal and 4 points in 7 playoff appearances as the Eagles reached the Divisional semi-finals.

As a free agent from the Avalanche, Jacobs was signed to a one-year, two-way contract to join rivals, the St. Louis Blues, on July 1, 2023. Jacobs would not feature within the Blues organization, missing the entirety of the season through injury.

On July 1, 2024, having left the Blues as a free agent, Jacobs signed a one-year AHL contract with the Montreal Canadiens' affiliate Laval Rocket.