RALEIGH, North Carolina- Hurricanes right winger and fan-favorite Jesper Fast announced his retirement from professional hockey on Monday morning.
In a statement released by the Carolina Hurricanes organization, Fast stated, “I never took for granted the privilege of playing in the best league in the world. 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.”
Known as “Quickie” to fans, Fast was originally drafted by the New York Rangers during the sixth round, 157th overall, at the 2010 NHL Draft. During his career, Fast played a total of 703 regular-season games and 80 career playoff games. As a Ranger, Fast was a five-time winner of the Rangers’ Players’ Player Award from 2015-2020 and wore the team’s A (alternate captain) from 2017-2020.
On October 20, 2020, Fast signed with the Hurricanes as a free agent. During the 2021-2022 season, Fast initiated the best hockey of his career, with new highs in games played (82), goals (14), points (34), and plus/minus (+24). Fast was the winner of Carolina’s Steve Chiasson Award that same season, honoring a player who best exemplifies determination and dedication while proving to be an inspiration to his teammates through his performance and approach to the game.
During the 2023 playoffs, Fast became the fourth player in Whalers-Hurricanes franchise history fourth player in franchise history to record multiple overtime winners in a single postseason, scoring in overtime in Game 2 against the New York Islanders in the first round, and again scoring the series-winner in Game 5 against the New Jersey Devils.
During his eleven seasons in the NHL, Fast had 91 goals and 157 assists in the regular season, and 27 points – 14 goals and 13 assists – during the postseason.
Fast had not played a game in the 2024-2025 season due to a neck injury sustained during a regular-season game on April 16, 2024, against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Fast was a UFA at the end of the 2024-2025 season.
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