Coming out of the United States National Team Development Program and the University of Michigan Wolverines, Brown was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in 2004.

[1] Before attending the University of Michigan for two years, Brown was a member of the US National Development Team Program, competing in the North American Hockey League (NAHL).

[3] In his pro rookie season in 2005–06 with the Manitoba Moose, the Canucks' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, he recorded 15 points in 73 games.

Brown scored his first NHL goal on December 2, 2007, against the Minnesota Wild in just his third game with the Canucks, deflecting a point shot from defenceman Lukáš Krajíček in a 2–1 loss.

[11] On May 1, 2009, Brown was ejected from Game 1 of the Western Conference Semi-finals after a questionable hit on then-Detroit Red Wings forward Jiří Hudler, who was left dazed and bloodied on the ice.

The Leafs general manager Brian Burke acquired Brown to protect his teammates on the ice and to bring toughness to the team.

[17] During the shortened 2012–13 season, on March 4, 2013, Brown was traded to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for a conditional fourth round pick in the 2014 Draft.

[25][26] As a free agent over the summer, Brown went un-signed before agreeing on a try-out basis to attend the training camp of the Columbus Blue Jackets on September 13, 2016.

On December 20, 2016, Brown belatedly signed a professional try-out ("PTO") contract with the Blue Jackets affiliate, the Cleveland Monsters of the AHL.