Looking Into The Future

Jesper Fasth. Photo courtesy Johan Andersson of Pic-Agency Sweden

Jesper Fasth, RW, 6’0″, 176 pounds

Date of birth: December 2, 1991

Previous team: HV71 of Elitserien Swedish Elite League (SEL)

Draft: 157th Overall, 2010 by the New York Rangers

Jesper Fasth, drafted by New York in 2010 is a speedy winger who has a good shot and  hockey sense. He likes to bring intensity and energy to his game and also isn’t afraid to play in the dirty areas.  He brings great forechecking to his game and can create offense with his intense speed and agility. Fasth has a knack for goal scoring as he is always in the area for an opportunity to score by staying close by for a rebound to bury. Not only can he play offense, but he also plays great defense in his own end. Although he has little North American style play of experience, he does know how to play on a pro level power play thanks to Team Sweden in the 2011 World Junior Championship. All around Fasth is a solid two-way forward who indeed has  2nd line potential,  he would fit well on the third line for the Rangers as they are deep enough in their top six.

Jesper Fasth signed an entry level deal with the Rangers on May 29, 2012. Fasth has had a pretty good career in the Swedish Elite League (SEL). He had 30 goals, 37 assists in 106 games for a total of 67 points. He was having a breakout year in the 2011-2012 season with five goals and 16 assists in just 21 games, but his season was cut short due to a foot injury. He returned for the playoffs and had two goals and an assist in 5 games. That did not stop him from progressing though. The very next year he picked up it up again having another solid year against full grown men. He had 18 goals and 17 assists in 47 games for a total of 35 points in the 2012-2013 season. In the 2011 World Junior Championship, he was 5th in goals and had 6 points, putting him in the top 15 among point leaders in the tournament.

Quotes:

 “Jesper Fasth has the potential to be the most successful European draft picks the Rangers have had in recent years. Currently skating with HV 71 of the Swedish Elite League, Fasth has good vision, excellent skating abilities, and can finish. Expected to play in North America as early as next season, Fasth has the potential to play on the second-line in the NHL.”  – Hockey’s Future

“Less than 12 months after the Rangers went “off the board” to gain his NHL rights, Fasth is starting to shape up as a possible home-run pick. He turned in a remarkable 2010-11 season and played a starring role on Sweden’s World Junior Championship team, where he and Erixon were teammates. Fasth, who got his final goal of the World Juniors in a bronze-medal game loss to Team USA at Buffalo on Jan. 5, ended up tied for the Swedish scoring lead with four goals and two assists in six games. – NYRangers.com