The Hurricanes have added some speed to their group of wingers as Pierre LeBrun of TSN and The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that they’ve signed Jesper Fast to a three-year deal. The contract carries a $2MM AAV and pays $1MM next season, $2MM in 2021-22, and $3MM in 2022-23.
The 28-year-old has been a consistent depth scorer throughout his NHL career, ranging between 20 and 33 points in each of the last five seasons. Last year was one of his better offensive campaigns despite the pandemic as he potted 12 goals and 17 assists in 69 games with the Rangers while logging a career-best 16:36 per night.
Fast is a good fit for the up-tempo Hurricanes both by which the speed he plays and his ability to play both wings and a variety of roles. He likely will slot in as a third liner when everyone is healthy and will be in more of a two-way role but he showed with New York that he can move up in a pinch.
The winger gets a small raise on his most recent deal which carried a $1.85MM AAV which is notable in this cap environment. The fact he also received a three-year deal is also impressive at a time where a lot of capable wingers have had to settle for shorter-term contracts.
With the move, Carolina now has a little under $5.8MM in cap space per CapFriendly with RFA winger Warren Foegele and RFA blueliner Haydn Fleury need new deals. Even when those two re-sign, they should still have enough to add another player if they so desire.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period was first to report that Carolina was working on a deal with Fast.
This is not good news for Rangers fans.
why is it bad news?? curious to see what the answer will be…
I think this is a good signing. I wanted the Pens to get him for 3C
Well anytime you lose an elite forechecker it’s never good news not to mention his speed to the puck.
Rangers couldn’t match? He’s getting barely more than Jack Johnson.
Rangers have other player they have to lock up… I think JJ will be exposed to the expansion draft. I could definitely be wrong about this thou.
We Canes fans love this signing.
That was fast
Carolina loves picking off the Rangers scrap heap, and it always seems to work out for them.