Former Rangers Forward Jesper Fast to Miss 2024-25 Season After Neck Surgery…
Jesper Fast, a former New York Rangers forward, will not participate in the 2024-25 season following neck surgery on August 6. The 32-year-old is expected to be placed on long-term injured reserve by the Carolina Hurricanes before the season starts.
Fast sustained a neck injury during Carolina’s final regular-season game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 16, after being cross-checked from behind. This injury sidelined him for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, including the second-round series where the Rangers eliminated the Hurricanes in six games.
“It’s the worst-case scenario. Just when the excitement begins, you’re stuck on the sidelines,” Fast said during breakup day in May. “You want to support your team and be involved, so it’s really tough to watch from the side. It was definitely one of the hardest times in my career.”
Fast appeared at breakup day wearing a neck brace but was optimistic about his future at that time.
“It’s a neck injury, as you can see. Right now, we’re still trying to determine the severity. We have more tests coming up, so we’ll know more soon,” he stated. “We’re hopeful, but we need to wait for additional results.”
Last season, Fast recorded 19 points (six goals, 13 assists) in 73 games, marking his fourth year with the Hurricanes after signing as a free agent before the 2020-21 season. He has one season remaining on his contract, carrying a $2.4 million salary cap hit, before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
However, his future in the NHL is uncertain as he recovers from the surgery.
Jesper Fast’s NHL Career in Doubt After Neck Surgery
Jesper Fast began his NHL career with the Rangers, where he spent seven seasons and earned the nickname “Quickie.” Known for his hard work and reliability, Fast was a solid middle-six forward and an elite penalty killer during his time in New York.
Although he wasn’t a star, Fast played a crucial role in the Rangers’ journey to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, where they lost to the Los Angeles Kings in five games. He was also part of the team that won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2014-15, only to be eliminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference Final.
In 422 games with the Rangers, Fast tallied 55 goals and 147 points. His best season with the Rangers was in 2017-18 when he recorded 33 points (13 goals, 20 assists). Four years later with the Hurricanes, Fast achieved an NHL career-high of 34 points (14 goals, 20 assists).
A sixth-round pick (No. 157) by the Rangers in the 2010 NHL Draft, Fast has played in 703 regular season NHL games and 80 more in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
