A case for re-signing Jesper Fast
When it comes to pending free agents, all of the New York Rangers chatter has been about Chris Kreider. It’s Jesper Fast who is worth keeping.
Chris Kreider, Vladislav Namestnikov and Jesper Fast are the three veteran New York Rangers who will become unrestricted free agents on July 1, 2020. While there is reason to expect Kreider and Namestnikov to find new homes by that time, there are some excellent reasons that the Rangers should extend the versatile Swede.
Fast is coming off a three-year contract that paid him $1.85 million per year. A new deal for the same term with a modest salary hike should be enough to retain him and the team should move sooner than later in getting it done. It’s a very simple argument and when you look at the facts, it’s hard to dispute the fact that Fast should stay a Blueshirt.
Age and durability
Fast is still young. He turns 28 years old in December and he is durable despite playing a physical game. He has visited the injured reserve list twice in five years and although he has missed some time with miscellaneous injuries, he can be counted on to play.
It’s a fact that Fast will play through injuries. Last season, in January he broke his thumb and suffered ligament damage in his hand, but played through the injury for almost two months before the team shut him down with eight games left in the season.
I’ll say that again. Fast labored for almost two months with torn ligaments and a broken thumb. He needed surgery to repair the damage. Did we know it? Of course not. In an age when a baseball player sits for weeks when he feels a twinge in his side, Fast is a throwback.
Versatility
When it comes to versatility, there is no one on the team who is more valuable then Fast. In his time with the Rangers he has played on all four lines in all situations. Whether as an ill-suited top line winger or a top line penalty killer or as a shutdown defensive fourth liner, coach David Quinn can count on Fast to fill any role.
While no one will describe Fast as a sniper, he has shown that he can score with a career high of 13 goals two seasons ago. One thing he can do is hit. He is consistently one of the leading Rangers when it comes to hits and he even led the team two seasons ago.
Fast is also a right handed shot. For a couple years he was the joined by Mika Zibanejad as the only right handed forwards on the team. Last season he was joined by Ryan Strome and this year the team will boast four right handed shooters with the addition of Artemi Panarin. Still, as a righty, Fast has value and provides balance to the team.
But Jesper Fast brings something else to the team that cannot be measured in terms of goals, assists, Corsi or shooting percentage.
The players’ player
Okay, Jesper Fast is 27 years old. That is dangerously close to senior citizenship in the modern NHL and the Rangers could find someone younger. Okay, he scored only eight goals in 66 games and every fan can recall an instance when he whiffed on what could have been a key goal. The Rangers were able to find a sniper like Michael Grabner for less than Fast’s salary and could do it again.
There is no doubt that when it comes to pure numbers, Jesper Fast is not an all star. But as a teammate he is and the example is the Players’ Player Award.
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It’s an annual award given to the player “who best exemplifies what it means to be a team player.” The Players’ Players Award is the one award not voted on by the fans or sports writers. It is voted on by the players and guess who has won the award for the last four years? Jesper Fast.
The players know when a teammate is playing through an injury and is willing to suffer when throwing a hit. They know which teammate will take a hit to make a pass and which teammate is willing to block a shot when a stick check is an option. They know which teammate gives his all every shift.
The winners of the award before Fast included Rick Nash, Ryan McDonagh and Ryan Callahan. That’s pretty good company for the Swede and is a sure indication of how valuable a teammate he is.
Stablity
With so much turnover on the roster, there is something to be said for stability. Fast made his debut with the Blueshirts in October 2013. He is fourth on the team in seniority, only behind Henrik Lundqvist, Marc Staal and Kreider.
With that turnover, the identity of the New York Rangers has changed. For the first time in years, we can honestly describe the roster as loaded offensively. The pipeline is filled with young, skilled players who are expected to fill the net. But young players tend to be lax when it comes to defense and with this roster, there is certainly room for a conscientious defensive forward like Fast.
Although the 2020 playoffs may be a dream, Fast has played in 39 playoff games, again, fourth on the team. That experience will be invaluable as the team improves and becomes a contender.
With such an infusion of youth, a player like Fast will immensely helpful in leading by example. Fast is exactly the player you want Vitali Kravtsov, Kaapo Kakko and Adam Fox to emulate. It’s why Fast was chosen by David Quinn to be one of the rotation of five team captains last season.
With a two or three year extension, Fast will be guaranteed to be a part of this Ranger team as it transforms from a rebuild to a Stanley Cup contender. He deserves the opportunity.
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