Jesper Fast, the 33-year-old right winger for the Carolina Hurricanes, announced his retirement from professional hockey on Monday. Fast’s decision came after a neck injury during the last game of the 2023-24 regular season. He missed the playoffs and underwent neck surgery in August 2024. Sadly, he did not play in the 2024-25 season.
Fast’s Career and Achievements
Fast shared his gratitude in a statement released by the Hurricanes. He thanked his teammates, coaches, staff, fans, and family for supporting him throughout his NHL career. He also thanked Swedish clubs Nassjo HC and HV71 for helping him develop into an NHL player.
Though he was drafted late—157th overall in the sixth round of the 2010 NHL draft—Jesper Fast made a strong mark in the league. He ranks 24th overall in career scoring from his draft class with 248 points in 703 games. He is also 24th in total goals, with 91.
Fast’s NHL Journey
Fast started his NHL career with the New York Rangers in the 2013-14 season. He played 11 regular-season games and got his first NHL points in three playoff games that year. His first NHL goal came in November 2014 against the Philadelphia Flyers.
During his first two seasons, Fast split time between the Rangers and their AHL affiliate. However, in 2015, he played 19 games during the Rangers’ run to the Stanley Cup final, scoring three goals and six points. He became a full-time NHL player in 2015-16, scoring 30 points in 79 games.
Fast improved his performance in two other seasons, scoring 33 points in 2017-18 and 34 points in 2021-22. His highest average ice time was 16 minutes and 36 seconds per game in 2019-20.
Move to the Carolina Hurricanes and Playoff Success
In 2020, Fast signed a three-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes worth $2 million annually. He later re-signed with them for two more years in 2023.
Fast made important contributions during the 2023 playoffs. He scored the overtime winner in Game 2 of the first round against the New York Islanders and the series-winning goal in Game 5 of the second round against the New Jersey Devils.
