Jesper Fast Retires from NHL

Jesper Fast is back on the ice—well, sort of. After missing the entire 2024-25 season due to a neck injury, the Carolina Hurricanes winger has decided to retire from the NHL after 11 seasons.

“I never took the privilege of playing in the best league in the world for granted,” he mentioned in a statement released by the Hurricanes. “I would like to thank all the Rangers and Hurricanes teammates, coaches, staff, and fans who made my time in the NHL special.”

He also expressed gratitude to the Swedish development team, which helped launch his NHL career. Drafted by the Rangers in 2010, Fast made his way to North America in 2013 after spending four seasons in Elitserien.

Interestingly, in his very first game in North America back in April 2013, he scored an AHL goal but also faced a knee injury that cut his season short. The following year, he finally made his NHL debut, stepping in for Chris Kreider after an injury.

Fast quickly established himself in the league, playing 11 regular-season games and adding three playoff appearances. Known for his speed, he soon became a fixture for the Rangers, even wearing the “A” as an assistant captain during the 2017-18 season until he signed a three-year, $6 million contract with the Hurricanes in 2020.

Throughout seven seasons with the Rangers, he accumulated 55 goals and 92 assists, totaling 248 points in 703 NHL games over his career, which spanned 911 games.

Unfortunately, the last game of the 2023-24 season turned out to be his final one, too. A cross-check from Eric Gudbranson of the Blue Jackets on April 16 resulted in a neck injury that required surgery, sidelining him for the entire following season. Fast described it as “the worst scenario,” reflecting on the disappointment of being inactive right as the excitement of the season began.