Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast has announced his retirement from professional hockey. He missed the entire 2024-25 season after sustaining a neck injury during the final game of the 2023-24 regular season.
The 33-year-old veteran made his decision public on Monday.
In a statement released through the team, Fast reflected on his career, saying, “I never took for granted the privilege of playing in the best league in the world.”
He added, “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 Nassjo HC and HV71, organizations that played a vital role in my development into an NHL player.”
Fast`s last appearance on the ice was in April 2024. The injury occurred when he was cross-checked from behind into the boards by Blue Jackets defenseman Erik Gudbranson during a game where the Hurricanes were already resting key players before heading into the playoffs, as the result had no impact on their final standings.
Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour expressed his frustration about the incident that night, stating, “That’s the part that just makes you sick, to be honest with you. You’re just trying to get through the game without having that. I’m not sure where that’s going to go.”
Approximately one month later, Fast was observed wearing a neck brace while speaking with reporters during end-of-season interviews.
Following the Hurricanes` elimination by the Rangers in the second round of the playoffs, Fast commented on his difficult situation: “It’s definitely one of the toughest periods of my career.”
In August, the team confirmed that Fast had undergone neck surgery and would be sidelined for the entire 2024-25 season.
Fast initially joined the Carolina organization in October 2020. He later signed a two-year contract extension worth $4.8 million in July 2023.
He was a significant contributor during Carolina`s playoff run to the 2023 Eastern Conference Final, scoring six goals. This included an overtime winner in Game 2 of the first-round series against the New York Islanders and the decisive series-clinching goal against the New Jersey Devils in their five-game second-round series victory.
Over his 11-season NHL career, split between the New York Rangers and the Carolina Hurricanes, Fast played in 703 regular-season games. He accumulated a total of 91 goals and 157 assists. He was originally a sixth-round pick by the Rangers in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Tristan Blackwood