The Carolina Hurricanes have signed right winger Jesper Fast to a three-year deal worth $6 million. This contract is worth $2 million per year and will keep Fast with the Hurricanes through the 2022-23 season.
Jesper Fast signs in Carolina, three years, $2M AAV
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 10, 2020
Carolina Hurricanes sign Jesper Fast
Over Fast’s seven-season career, he has always played in the bottom-six with the New York Rangers. Fast was a late-round steal for the Rangers, drafted 157th overall in the 2010 NHL Draft. Over Fast’s career with the Rangers, he has scored 55 goals and tallied 92 assists. This amounts to 147 points recorded in 422 games. These are decent numbers for a bottom-six player, and Fast will continue to bring this consistent depth production to the Hurricanes.
One of the benefits of Fast’s play is despite the Rangers starting him in the defensive zone the majority of faceoffs, Fast still posts positive possession numbers relative to his team. Throughout his career, Fast has started 55.9 percent of his faceoffs in the defensive zone. However, he’s posted a plus 0.5 Corsi percentage relative to his teammates. This showcases Fast’s remarkable defensive play and ability to control possession. His positive relative Corsi numbers also suggest that he drives play while on the ice.
What This Means Going Forward
As for Fast’s skill set, he brings a lot to the Hurricanes. As his name suggests, he is a speedy player who can use his hands at a fast pace. Although Fast is defensively responsible, he doesn’t offer ideal size for a bottom-six role. Fast is 6′-1″ and 191 pounds, relatively light for today’s NHL.
Fast is a decent playoff performer as well. Despite always playing in a bottom-six role, he’s been able to record points in the Rangers’ playoff runs in 2015 and 2017. Fast played 19 and 12 games in those runs and scored six points in each. While these aren’t substantial numbers, it’s great production from a proven veteran playing in a depth role. This is a smart signing for the Hurricanes, as Fast will bring veteran depth at a cheap price.
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