Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast announced Monday that he would be officially retiring from professional hockey.
The decision comes following a neck injury Fast sustained at the end of the 2023-24 regular season. In the final game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, defenseman Erik Gudbranson cross checked Fast from behind, causing the forward to crash hard into the end boards.
Fast would miss the entire 2024 playoffs and before the start of last season, it was announced that he would miss the entire 2024-25 season too following surgery.
“I never took for granted the privilege of playing in the best league in the world,” Fast said in a press release. “I am grateful for all of the teammates, coaches, staff and fans from the Rangers and Hurricanes who made my time in the NHL so special, and for my family for everything they did to help me achieve and live my dream. I’d also like to thank Nässjö HC and HV71, organizations that played a vital role in my development into an NHL player.”
Fast, 33, was drafted in the sixth round of the 2010 draft, but carved out a pretty good career for himself, appearing in 703 regular season games and 80 playoff games across 11 season with both the New York Rangers (five) and Carolina Hurricanes (three).
In those regular-season games, the defensive winger had 91 goals and 248 points and was a +41 and for the playoffs, had 14 goals and 28 points with a +5 rating.
He was a shutdown staple alongside Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook for Carolina and no one can forget his crazy playoff run in 2023, including the overtime series winner against the New Jersey Devils.
All the best to Jesper and his family.
🔴 THE SERIES WINNER ⚫️
— NHL (@NHL) May 12, 2023
Jesper Fast has the screen in front and scores the overtime winner to send the @Canes to the Eastern Conference Final! #StanleyCuppic.twitter.com/bG68VNEYWz
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