Jesper Fast has officially called it quits, making the decision to retire from professional hockey.
Jesper Fast Hangs Up His Skates: A Look Back at His NHL Career
In an unexpected move, Jesper Fast, the former forward for the Carolina Hurricanes, announced his retirement from professional hockey on Monday. Let's rewind and remember the journey of this 33-year-old Swedish phenom!
Fast's last season was cut short due to a neck surgery he underwent in August 2024. The injury, suffered in the final game of the previous regular season against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 16, 2024, marked the sad ending to his competitive run.
In a heartfelt farewell, Fast wrote, "Playing in the best hockey league in the world was never taken for granted. I'm deeply grateful for my teammates, coaches, staff, and fans for making my NHL journey special." He also expressed gratitude to the Nassjo HC and HV71, the organizations that played vital roles in his development as a player.
Fast joined the Hurricanes as a free agent on October 20, 2020, and made a significant impact, setting career highs in games played (82), goals (14), points (34), and plus-minus (+24) during the 2021-22 season with the North Carolina team.
Throughout his NHL career with the New York Rangers and the Hurricanes from 2013 to 2024, Fast netted 91 goals, registered 157 assists, and tallied 248 total points. He also posted a respectable plus-minus of +41. Moreover, Fast had 27 points (14-13) in 80 playoff games, sporting a plus-minus of +5.
Selected in the sixth round, 157th overall, by the Rangers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Fast served as an alternate captain for the Rangers from 2017 to 2020. He spent the initial seven years of his NHL career with the Rangers before joining the Hurricanes, forging a memorable chapter in his NHL career.
A quick look at his career statistics reveals that in 422 games with the Rangers, he scored 55 goals, had 147 assists, and amassed 202 points, whereas in 281 games with the Hurricanes, he scored 36 goals, had 110 assists, and accumulated 146 points. However, his plus-minus statistics, unfortunately, weren't specified in the available data. For more detailed stats, such as those for specific seasons, one might refer to websites like NHL.com or Hockey-Reference.com.
In his heartfelt farewell, Jesper Fast expressed gratitude for playing in the best hockey league in the world, aka NHL, where he spent seven years with the New York Rangers and five years with the Carolina Hurricanes. Throughout his NHL career, fast netted several goals, including 14 with the Hurricanes during the 2021-22 season, making a significant impact in the sports of hockey, specifically in the NHL.
