Jesper Fast, Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 31 Position: RW 2022-23 AAV: $2M
You might be sensing a theme here; the Nashville Predators need to be on the lookout for depth help in their forward core with two-way veterans. Jesper Fast fits that need.
Fast is probably a player the Carolina Hurricanes don’t necessarily want to part ways with, but just don’t have cap space to retain him. They have a lot of cap space, but also a lot of unrestricted free agents to sort out.
The Hurricanes have two goalies, Frederick Andersen and Antti Raanta, and also some other vital star players like Max Pacioretty, Jordan Staal and Shayne Gostisbehere.
With so many free agents to re-sign, Fast could conceivably be on the outside looking in and on the market. The Predators should definitely inquire adding the 31-year-old winger who can provide a little offense to your bottom six, play on the penalty kill and play that physical style that the Predators love to have.
Fast is only projected according to Daily Faceoff to get around a $2.3M AAV contract this summer, give or take. Worth taking a flyer on to place on your third line if you’re the Predators.
These previous three players (Brown, Kerfoot, Fast) would give competition to current bottom-six Predators players like Yakov Trenin, Cole Smith, Kiefer Sherwood and Mark Jankowski.