Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast is retired after missing this season after suffering a neck injury in the 2023-24 regular season finale.
Fast, 33, announced his decision on Monday.
“I never took for granted the privilege of playing in the best leagues in the world,” Fast said in a statement issued by the team.
“I am grateful to all my teammates, coaches, coaches, staff, hurricanes and all my families who made my time in the NHL special and to help my family achieve and live my dreams.
Fast was not playing in April 2024 when Blue Jackets defensive man Erik Gudbranson cross-checked him to the board from behind. Carolina headed for the playoffs, giving many players a break in games that were unregarded by ranking.
“It’s the part where you get sick and be honest with you,” Coach Rod Brinder Amore said that night. “You’re just trying to get through the game without it. You don’t know where it’s going.”
When I spoke to reporters in an interview at the end of the year about a month later, Fast was wearing a brace around his neck.
“It’s definitely one of the toughest times of my career,” Fast said after the Hurricane fell to the Rangers in round two of the playoffs.
The team announced in August that Fast had neck surgery and would miss the 2024-25 season.
Fast first signed with Carolina in October 2020, then re-signed a two-year, $4.8 million extension in July 2023.
He scored six postseason goals while Carolina was running to the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. This includes the remnants in Game 2 of the first round series with the New York Islanders and the series clincher with the New Jersey Devils in the five-game second round series.
Fast played 703 career regular-season games in the NHL with the Rangers and the Hurricanes over 11 seasons, talliing 91 goals and 157 assists. He was the sixth draft pick by the Rangers in 2010.
