Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast has announced his retirement from professional hockey. His decision comes after he missed the entire current season due to a neck injury suffered during the final game of the 2023-24 regular season.
Fast, aged 33, made the announcement on Monday.
In a statement released by the team, Fast commented, “I always considered it a privilege to play in the world`s premier hockey league.”
Expressing thanks, Fast stated, “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 game 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 Carolina was resting key players ahead of the playoffs, and the outcome had no impact on the standings.
That evening, coach Rod Brind’Amour reacted to the incident, saying, “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 a month later, during end-of-season interviews, Fast was seen wearing a neck brace when speaking to the media.
After the Hurricanes were eliminated by the Rangers in the second round of the playoffs, Fast described the situation, stating, “It’s definitely one of the toughest periods of my career.”
In August, the team confirmed that Fast had undergone neck surgery and would miss the entirety of the 2024-25 season.
Fast originally joined the Carolina organization in October 2020, later signing a two-year contract extension worth $4.8 million in July 2023.
During the Hurricanes` playoff run to the Eastern Conference final in 2023, he contributed six goals, including an overtime winner in Game 2 against the New York Islanders in the first round and the decisive goal that secured the second-round series victory against the New Jersey Devils in five games.
Across 11 seasons in the NHL with both the Rangers and Hurricanes, Fast participated in 703 regular-season games, recording a total of 91 goals and 157 assists. He was originally a sixth-round draft selection by the Rangers in 2010.
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