Jesper Fast

Jesper Fast (born December 2, 1991) is a Swedish professional ice hockey right winger of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL).

A native of Nässjö, Sweden, Jesper Fast was born on December 2, 1991.

He debuted in the 2007–08 season, tallying 26 points (15 goals, 11 assists) in 30 games.

The next season, as a 16-year-old, Fast played in 37 regular season games and seven playoff matches for HV71's U20 team.

He scored 17 points (9 goals, 8 assists) and had 24 penalty minutes, including two goals, one assist and eight penalty minutes in the postseason.

In 2009–10, Fast recorded 49 points (23 goals, 26 assists), the highest he had scored in all three categories during his SuperElit league career.

He led the team in goals and placing second in points and third in assists.

He tied for fifth in the overall league for regular season points, and also had two assists in three playoff games.

Fast also made his Swedish Hockey League debut in 2009–10, playing in two games with HV71, although he failed to record a point in either match.

Fast was drafted by the New York Rangers in the sixth round (157th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and joined the Rangers organization in 2013.

A Nässjö native, Fast started his career with two seasons in the J20 SuperElit junior hockey league, leading his team in goals in his final season.

He started his first extended season with the Swedish Hockey League in 2010 and spent three full seasons with the HV71, tying for the team lead in goals in 2012–13 and earning the Rinkens riddare for most sportsmanlike player.

He returned to the SuperElit league for the start of the 2010–11 season, scoring 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in six games with the HV71 U20 team, before permanently joining the Swedish Hockey League.

At age 18, playing in a limited role for HV71 during the 2010–11 season, Fast scored 16 points (7 goals, 9 assists) in 36 games, with a +6 plus-minus, 6 penalty minutes and two power play goals, exceeded most observers' expectations.

Fast credited playing alongside Johan Davidsson as part of the reason for his success and growth in confidence.

He was held scoreless with a -3 plus-minute in three postseason games as the first-place HV71 was swept from the first round of the playoffs by Allmänna Idrottsklubben (AIK) in an upset.

Fast was drafted by the New York Rangers in the sixth round (157th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, having obtained the sixth round pick from the Carolina Hurricanes earlier in the day in exchange for defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti.

Fast was the fifth of six players the Rangers drafted in 2010, along with Dylan McIlrath, Christian Thomas, Andrew Yogan, Jason Wilson and Randy McNaught.

Internationally, Fast played for Sweden at the 2011 World Junior Championships.

In the 2011–12 season, Fast had three multi-point games, including a career-high four assists and five points against AIK on October 4.

That game started a streak of 10 points (one goal, nine assists) over six games, which continued to an October 20 match against Frölunda HC.

However, Fast's season was cut short after he suffered a fractured ankle during a November 29 game against Brynäs IF.

He missed three months as a result, but nevertheless recorded 16 points (five goals, 11 assists) in 21 games for the season, matching his Swedish Hockey League career high in points and establishing new career highs in assists and plus-minus (+9).

He also scored two goals and one assist in five postseason games.

In December 2011, Fast signed a two-year contract extension with HV71, which included a 900 percent raise to 5 million krona annually.

He changed his last name to "Fast" in 2012.

Fast began his hockey career with the HV71 U18 team in Sweden's J20 SuperElit junior hockey league.

Fast had a strong start to his 2012–13 season, scoring six points (four goals, two assists) in the first 10 games.

He finished the regular season with 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) in 47 games, exceeding the 32 points (12 goals, 10 assists) he had scored in 57 games during his first two Swedish Hockey League seasons.

Fast tied for HV71 lead in goals and ranked third on the team in points, behind Jason Krog (43) and Rhett Rakhshani (39).

Fast also had a career-high +13 plus-minus.

Despite ranking third in the league, HV71 was eliminated from the playoffs in five games against Linköpings HC, during which Fast recorded five points (1 goal, 4 assists), and a +4 plus-minus.

He tied with Rakhshani for second on the team in postseason points and assists.

At the conclusion of the 2012–13 season, Fast was awarded the Rinkens riddare (Knight of the Rink) award, which is bestowed by the Swedish hockey journalists' association each season to the most sportsmanlike player.

He was also voted favorite HV71 player of the year by readers of the Swedish publication Jnytt.

On May 29, 2012, the Rangers announced Fast had been signed to a two-way, three-year entry level contract, valued at $2.145 million, with a $900,000 annual cap hit.

Since HV71 was eliminated from the 2012–13 playoffs earlier than expected, Fast had the opportunity to go to the New York Rangers organization sooner than originally planned.

The Swedish Hockey League initially voiced objections, but eventually agreed to loan him to the Rangers.

Fast practiced with New York for the first time on April 2, 2013, although he did not play with the team that season.

When the media asked about the Rangers organization's plan for Fast, head coach John Tortorella replied: "There isn't one."