Jan Levine: Jesper Fast - will the Rangers want and be able to bring him back? The team's Swiss army knife

I'd always viewed Fast as a poor-man's Callahan and like Cally, I believed that his body had begun to break down. I thought we might as well trade him at the deadline because while he's played hurt for much of the past few years, he would be forced to miss a lot of time on his next,(more expensive), deal.

But unlike Callahan, Fast's numbers won't command that much more salary. Fast's back-checking and fore checking, as well as his work ethic, experience and leadership are pretty important on the youngest team in the league and so might be worth the risk.

He is this player’s player. Worth every penny of a slight, so-called “overpay”. Find that money somewhere else; the opportunities are legion.

I'd always viewed Fast as a poor-man's Callahan and like Cally, I believed that his body had begun to break down. I thought we might as well trade him at the deadline because while he's played hurt for much of the past few years, he would be forced to miss a lot of time on his next,(more expensive), deal.

But unlike Callahan, Fast's numbers won't command that much more salary. Fast's back-checking and fore checking, as well as his work ethic, experience and leadership are pretty important on the youngest team in the league and so might be worth the risk.
- 15Hedberg

Not a bad comparison, Fast does the most with what he has skill wise and a never ending effort and will that you wish all players had.

No reason they can’t keep Fast at 3 yrs, 2.5 per. That’s a fair raise and well spent money imo

Next year he’ll upgrade the bottom 6 and Kakko will hopefully take his spot on the second line

No reason they can’t keep Fast at 3 yrs, 2.5 per. That’s a fair raise and well spent money imo

Next year he’ll upgrade the bottom 6 and Kakko will hopefully take his spot on the second line
- Slimtj100

A fair raise yes, but will he (and the agent) be ok with that?

A fair raise yes, but will he (and the agent) be ok with that?
- B2B76

Why I suggested three years, $9 mil. Would love slightly cheaper, but unsure that's realistic.

With the cap staying flat, I think he is a goner. If the talks stalled then, his camp is looking at his his his last contract as a HR. If they do have compliance buyouts will it be one or two? I think Hank is goner either way, buyouts or not. But that money save has to go to ADA, Strome, Lemieux,

Why I suggested three years, $9 mil. Would love slightly cheaper, but unsure that's realistic.
- airjan23

I think you guys all know where I stand on Fast.
I agree Jan, I would love to see them bring him back, but even $3M per might not be feasible. I would try to get him in for 3x$2.75 or even $2.85. But while I think he would still be a value at a little more, I don't know that we have the cap space.
Maybe someone should talk to Breadman and Stomer about kicking in for their offense-enabling linemate!!

No reason they can’t keep Fast at 3 yrs, 2.5 per. That’s a fair raise and well spent money imo

Next year he’ll upgrade the bottom 6 and Kakko will hopefully take his spot on the second line
- Slimtj100

Kegger isn't coming back, give Quickie his 750k and maybe a bit more.

With the cap staying flat, I think he is a goner. If the talks stalled then, his camp is looking at his his his last contract as a HR. If they do have compliance buyouts will it be one or two? I think Hank is goner either way, buyouts or not. But that money save has to go to ADA, Strome, Lemieux,
- Brukie

Why on earth would you give more money to Lemieux over Fast?

If I'm choosing between the slight upgrade for one of them, Fast is getting the raise. Lemieux has done zero for me this year. Outside of Lias, he was the most disappointing player this season, and it's not even close. On the flip side, Fast had a career year and performed beyond expectations.

Why on earth would you give more money to Lemieux over Fast?

If I'm choosing between the slight upgrade for one of them, Fast is getting the raise. Lemieux has done zero for me this year. Outside of Lias, he was the most disappointing player this season, and it's not even close. On the flip side, Fast had a career year and performed beyond expectations.
- Bean_Dip

Preach, brotha!!!!!
Lemieux stunk 4 games out of 5 this season. Huge regression, IMO. No brain and no finish.

Why on earth would you give more money to Lemieux over Fast?

If I'm choosing between the slight upgrade for one of them, Fast is getting the raise. Lemieux has done zero for me this year. Outside of Lias, he was the most disappointing player this season, and it's not even close. On the flip side, Fast had a career year and performed beyond expectations.
- Bean_Dip

I didnt say give more money to Lemieux. If the Rangers resign Lemieux, it will be for 1.5 to 1.8

Preach, brotha!!!!!
Lemieux stunk 4 games out of 5 this season. Huge regression, IMO. No brain and no finish.
- Tonybere

I just don't understand the infatuation with "Bad Boy" Lemieux. He was dubbed an agitator, but the only thing he does is agitate ref arms up for a 2 min breather in the box.

How many times did he drop the gloves this season? Answer: 5. How many in 2020? ZERO! He's not the agitator some say he is and I know that's the sole reason people want him to be extended and given a raise.

I didnt say give more money to Lemieux. If the Rangers resign Lemieux, it will be for 1.5 to 1.8
- Brukie

I understand what you're saying. In this scenario, you're giving Lemieux a raise and cutting Fast. Use the money you'd give to Lemieux and spend it on Fast. Lemieux does not deserve any sort of raise, imo.

I understand what you're saying. In this scenario, you're giving Lemieux a raise and cutting Fast. Use the money you'd give to Lemieux and spend it on Fast. Lemieux does not deserve any sort of raise, imo.
- Bean_Dip

Who knows what Fast is asking for. If it comes down to signing him for 5 or 6 years for 3mil would you want to do that?

Who knows what Fast is asking for. If it comes down to signing him for 5 or 6 years for 3mil would you want to do that?
- Brukie

5 or 6 years seems like an extreme and something you just pulled out of your ass to prove a point

I think Fast is worth every single penny he's paid. I'd be willing to pay him $3 mil a year. poop, I'd even trade Lemieux to free up cap space to keep Fast around.

5 or 6 years seems like an extreme and something you just pulled out of your ass to prove a point

I think Fast is worth every single penny he's paid. I'd be willing to pay him $3 mil a year. poop, I'd even trade Lemieux to free up cap space to keep Fast around.
- Bean_Dip

5 or 6 years seems like an extreme and something you just pulled out of your ass to prove a point

I think Fast is worth every single penny he's paid. I'd be willing to pay him $3 mil a year. poop, I'd even trade Lemieux to free up cap space to keep Fast around.
- Bean_Dip

100%

Fast is worth 3 a year. He’s second in my priority list, behind Deangelo. Leimeux has done nothing to deserve even a single dollar of a raise

100%

Fast is worth 3 a year. He’s second in my priority list, behind Deangelo. Leimeux has done nothing to deserve even a single dollar of a raise
- Slimtj100

Wouldn't be surprised if he got more than that. Brandon Tanev is getting $3.5M, I'm guessing Fast comes in around that amount.

Wouldn't be surprised if he got more than that. Brandon Tanev is getting $3.5M, I'm guessing Fast comes in around that amount.
- eichiefs9

Some players want every penny and are greedy, I don’t get that impression from Fast at all. He loves being a ranger, i think he’s the epitome of doing the discount thing.

Kessel and Skinner combined for 5 even strength goals this year. 5! 5 EVEN STRENGTH goals! That’s right, 5 in 129 combined games Skinner had none btw

Wouldn't be surprised if he got more than that. Brandon Tanev is getting $3.5M, I'm guessing Fast comes in around that amount.
- eichiefs9

Welp, back from Florida and working from home all week. I had a few days before they shut everything down there.

I think both of us have been pretty in agreement someone is gonna make the mistake in overpaying Fast. I know this is an argument that I think we have to agree most people on this board will agree to disagree with me on, but smart orgs just don't allocate that kind of money to players like that.

I think people forget that signing Fast doesn't occur in a vacuum. Not paying Fast 3 million is 3 milion that can be allocated to ADA and Strome, or even in the following offseason with Zib's contract is up. As popular a guy as Quickie is, I'd be pretty peeved if we couldn't lock our core because we decided to give a hefty raise to a bottom 6 player. Even more maddening when there could be internal options to mostly replace him that would be far cheaper.

Fast is a signing you make if you thought the team was really close to winning, we aren't. Now is the time to see if guys like Di Guissepe, moving Howden to wing, Gaut, or even a longshot like Elmer or Barron can fill the role. Even if all those above options fail, theres countless guys every year on UFA that you can sign and do a decent job for a fraction of what Fast would cost.

Why I suggested three years, $9 mil. Would love slightly cheaper, but unsure that's realistic.
- airjan23

Hopefully we can get all our guys signed for extensions but there may have to be some bend on both sides to get things done. Again it does help we have some more breathing room from the Skeij deal, that was such a great trade.

5 or 6 years seems like an extreme and something you just pulled out of your ass to prove a point

I think Fast is worth every single penny he's paid. I'd be willing to pay him $3 mil a year. poop, I'd even trade Lemieux to free up cap space to keep Fast around.
- Bean_Dip

Oh Ok so you think I pulled 5 or 6 years out of my ass?? Ok my reasoning for him wanting term.

He is 28, why would he want a 3 year deal? So he could become a FA at 31? Would you take a 3 yr contract?

This is his first crack at free agency. This is the players first crack to hit a home run for a big time contract. He is a bottom six forward who will not be putting up spectacular numbers in the future.



You value him so, Im sure he thinks just as highly of himself.