"Jesper is an intelligent, versatile player who will fits the mold of how the Hurricanes play hockey under Rod Brind'Amour," said Waddell.
Fast, 28, completed his seventh NHL season with the New York Rangers in 2019-20, scoring 12 goals and adding 17 assists (19 points) in 69 games played. The Nassjo, Sweden, native established a career high in plus/minus (+16) and recorded more than 100 hits (125) for the third consecutive season and the fifth time in the last six years. Fast (6'1", 191 lbs.) led all Rangers and ranked 21st among NHL forwards in shorthanded ice time (162:35) during the regular season, scoring a pair of shorthanded goals.
Originally selected by the Rangers in the sixth round, 157th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Fast has totaled 147 points (55g, 92a) in 422 career games. He served as an alternate captain for New York for the second consecutive year in 2019-20, and became the first player in Rangers' history to receive the "Players' Player" award in five consecutive seasons (2015-16 to 2019-20). The award is given to the Rangers player who "best exemplifies what it means to be a team player," as voted on by his teammates.
