EXCLUSIVE: Fast, Rangers Mutually Interested in New Contract
The Swedish winger would like to remain a Ranger and is willing to take a discount to make it happen.
The New York Rangers and Jesper Fast are attempting to work out a contract extension, sources tell Blueshirt Banter.
Fast, who is in his home country of Sweden, spoke with both Head Coach David Quinn and General Manager Jeff Gorton as recently as today (Friday). Quinn specifically has gone to management and vehemently vouched for Fast’s return, Blueshirt Banter has learned.
Fast’s strong priority is to remain a Blueshirt but, as a source claimed, “he knows his value.” The 28-year-old is an unrestricted free agent and his camp believes he would earn a contract on the open market that pays him $4 million annually. However, he would be willing to take a discount in order to make things work with the Rangers. Fast is seeking compensation that would fall short of that figure but still pay him an average annual salary in the range of $3.2 million.
Though negotiations are nowhere near complete, there does not seem to be a major disconnect between what Fast is asking for and what the Rangers believe he is worth. Rather, Fast’s fate appears primarily tied to whether the Rangers will have enough room under the salary cap to make the math work.
