Jesper Fast agreed to a three-year, $6 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday. It has an average annual value of $2 million.
The 28-year-old forward, who was an unrestricted free agent, scored 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 69 games with the New York Rangers last season and no points in one postseason game.
"I know (Hurricanes defenseman) Brady Skjei from playing with the Rangers, so I had a talk with him and he had only good stuff to say," Fast said Sunday. "And in talking to (coach) Rod [Brind'Amour] and (owner) Tom [Dundon], they said they wanted me there. In the end I'm really looking forward to getting there, meeting all the guys and everyone else. I'm really looking forward to it."
Fast said he sustained a concussion on a check from Skjei in the opening minute of the first game in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers between the Rangers and Hurricanes on Aug. 1, but that the two remain on good terms. The Hurricanes swept the best-of-5 series.
"I talked to him after the playoffs," Fast said. "It's a good opportunity getting back here. I've known him for many years, we're good friends, so no harm there."
Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said that Fast, a quick skater, strong on the forecheck, responsible defensively and a top penalty killer, will be a good fit with Carolina.
"Prior to free agency, we meet as a staff and we identify players who we think will fit in our system," Waddell said. "We play a very fast system, Rod always likes to be on the attack with the puck, so there's a lot of good players in free agency, but we look more at which players can play the way we like to play. Jesper was one of the guys we identified early, and as soon as we were able to, we contacted his agent and started the process of acquiring him."
Fast said he agreed about being a good fit with the Hurricanes.
"I've played them a lot, I've seen how they play; they play a fast game, they play hard," Fast said. "I really like how they play and I think I fit the system really good. I feel like everyone has good character, everyone works hard, so that's what drove me to Carolina as well. Of course, I talked to Brady and just heard amazing stuff about Rod. I haven't heard a bad word about him, so I'm really looking forward to getting a chance to work with him."
Selected by New York in the sixth round (No. 157) of the 2010 NHL Draft, Fast has scored 147 points (55 goals, 92 assists) in 422 regular-season games and 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 40 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
NHL.com staff writer Tracey Myers contributed to this report
