The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Thursday that winger Jesper Fast will miss the entire upcoming season due to neck surgery. That loss is likely to have a serious impact on the Canes as Fast played a key role in the team’s bottom six.
Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast expected to miss season after neck surgery
Then there’s the Hurricanes looking to make more serious additions as training camp begins, with Jesper Fast set to be out for the entire season. Here’s a look at three potential replacements the Hurricanes could look to
3 Potential Jesper Fast Replacements For Carolina Hurricanes
#3. Noel Gunler
That said, the Swedish player hasn’t yet made it to the NHL yet, but with the Canes’ need for a winger, Gunler may have a chance.
A former second-round pick from 2020, Gunler spent some time with the AHL Chicago Wolves, and then put up 18 points in 31 games during the 2022-23 season.
Thus, Gunler Jesper Fast can offer a similar playing style, allowing the team to have greater flexibility up front, especially if injuries and inconsistency continue to afflict the club’s forward group.
#2. Kyle Okposo
And while still a free agent in the offseason, Kyle Okposo spent the latter part of last season with the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers but then failed to make any plays during the postseason. Still, Okposo could provide useful depth primarily on the fourth line, giving the Canes much-needed flexibility.
At this point, Okposo joins the club on a PTO, meaning the Canes could cut ties with him if things don’t go well in training camp. Then assuming he joins the team, there’s always the possibility he could be sent to the minors, most likely on waivers.
Now, assuming he wants to stick with the Canes, Okposo must be able to score in some serious way. Then last season, he scored 22 points on 12 goals and 10 assists in 61 games with the Buffalo Sabres before being traded to the Panthers.
That sort of depth scoring could be useful for Carolina, especially from a fourth-liner.
#1. Kailer Yamamoto
While he was a former first-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers, he spent time with the Seattle Kraken last season. In 59 games, he recorded 16 points via eight goals and eight assists. Although Yamamoto won’t be playing a top-six role anytime soon, he plays a vital role at an affordable price.
Last season, Yamamoto’s $1.5 million cap hit was reasonable given his role in Seattle. This time around, the Canes look to get Yamamoto for around $1 million or possibly even less.
Then there are reasons to believe Yamamoto could be a good fit in Carolina, given the Canes’ structured system, Yamamoto could find a solid role and his skills could serve the team’s overall philosophy.
Perhaps the best part for the Hurricanes is that Yamamoto can play up and down the bottom six, especially if injuries become an issue. Then they can put him on waivers without having to worry about claiming him immediately if things don’t work out.
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