Jesper Fast, a seasoned right wing, has officially announced his retirement from professional hockey. the 33-year-old veteran spent 11 seasons in the National hockey League (NHL),leaving behind a legacy of dedication and sportsmanship.

“I never took for granted the privilege of playing in the best league in the world,” said Fast. “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 Nässjö HC and HV71, organizations that played a vital role in my development into an NHL player.”

Fast’s NHL career spanned 703 regular-season games with the New York Rangers and the carolina Hurricanes. he accumulated 91 goals and 157 assists,totaling 248 points,with a plus-41 plus/minus rating. A native of Nassjo, Sweden, Fast also participated in 80 stanley Cup playoff games, recording 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) and a plus-5 rating. The Rangers selected him in the sixth round, 157^th at the 2010 NHL draft. He secured his first NHL point with an assist in Game 1 of the 2014 Eastern Conference quarterfinal against Philadelphia on April 17, 2014, and scored his first NHL goal on November 29, 2014, also against Philadelphia. From 2017 to 2020, Fast served as new York’s alternate captain and earned the Rangers’ Players’ Player Award five times (2015-2020).

Key Moments in Carolina

“I never took for granted the privilege of playing in the best league in the world.”

Fast joined carolina as a free agent on October 20, 2020. During the 2021-22 season, he achieved career highs in games played (82), goals (14), points (34), and plus/minus (+24). That same season, he received the Steve Chiasson Award, an honor given to the player who best demonstrates determination, dedication, and inspiration to teammates through their performance and approach to the game. In the 2023 playoffs, fast became the fourth player in franchise history to score multiple overtime winners in a single postseason, achieving this feat in Game 2 of the First Round against the Islanders and Game 5 of the Second Round against New Jersey. He marked his 200^th career NHL point with a goal against the Islanders on April 24,2022,and played his 700^th career NHL game on April 9,2024,in Boston. A neck injury sustained in the regular-season finale against the Columbus Blue Jackets on April 16,2024,sidelined Fast for the entire 2024-25 season.