[brooks] Fast Expected to Depart in Free Agency

I don’t get it, unless his ask is ridiculous.

Q: “The Rangers have to build a solid bottom 6 this offseason, who could they get in FA?”

A: “Fast lol, au revoir buddy”

He’s exactly the type you hope to find for the bottom 6. Absolute no brainer if the money and term is acceptable.

Moreover, the cap isn't just expected to remain flat, but remain flat for multiple years.

Right. While escrow steadily decreases from a high percentage. Normally you'd combat escrow with a higher salary but obviously that isn't possible here. Fast has to wonder whether or not he can really cash in on anything in the coming free agency. Whatever he's going to get is going to be less than he normally would receive. At that rate, is it worth leaving?

In my mind, Fast shouldn't even be a casualty, Strome should go before him.

Right. While escrow steadily decreases from a high percentage. Normally you'd combat escrow with a higher salary but obviously that isn't possible here. Fast has to wonder whether or not he can really cash in on anything in the coming free agency. Whatever he's going to get is going to be less than he normally would receive. At that rate, is it worth leaving?

 

In my mind, Fast shouldn't even be a casualty, Strome should go before him.

This could be debated and contested till the cows come home. Thats a tough call. If the $$ is right, keep both. Otherwise, see ya. Fast is 29, his brand of hockey will create his decline very shortly. If it isn't 1-3mil for 2-3 years. Im out. Strome gets a two year offer at 3-4mil again. Yes, the chemistry is there right now but a zebra doesn't change its stripes and his career average will be back shortly. I dont think anyone will be banging his door down.

This could be debated and contested till the cows come home. Thats a tough call. If the $$ is right, keep both. Otherwise, see ya. Fast is 29, his brand of hockey will create his decline very shortly. If it isn't 1-3mil for 2-3 years. Im out. Strome gets a two year offer at 3-4mil again. Yes, the chemistry is there right now but a zebra doesn't change its stripes and his career average will be back shortly. I dont think anyone will be banging his door down.

I'm not really worried about Fast's decline truthfully. He plays a physical and demanding brand of hockey but that's entirely his game. I'm not really worried about offense deteriorating or anything else, he doesn't have a very far height to fall from. If he can be a 20-30 point player consistently for three more seasons or so while still providing excellent defense and energy then that's all you need. I'd be concerned with mileage on a player like Callahan. Less so with Fast. Sub $3M he's worth the risk.

Strome, if he's kept, I'm thinking should get a one year deal. Let him have the year to repeat if he can and then he'll have a chance at UFA. He works hard and can contribute offensively but he's not someone you hitch your wagon to as a second-line center. I don't think he matches up well there. Ideally, he's a 3C or playing on the wing. I don't think he'll come in at the price range for either of those positions though.

This should be easy. If they let Fast walk, they will not be able to replace him with someone with equal value for less money. It would be a bad mistake to replace him with another $800K a year glorified AHLer. Have you liked how those type of guys have looked on our bottom 6?

I'd prefer Fogarty or Gettinger in my bottom 6 over Fast in my top 6.

It’s only been under Quinn that Fast has seen his ice time go above the 15 minutes per game mark. And that has been only due to the fact that he works his ass off and their roster has been younger/under talented/in transition.

 

Yes, ideally he’s on your 3rd line.

But he’s proven time and again he’s a valuable, effective, and efficient guy in that spot. He’s exactly the type of guy they should be keeping around. Maybe not at all costs, but they need to try hard to do it.

His value is as 3rd liner and that's it. Let's not do the intangibles of Jesper Fast talk. Fact is HE DOESN'T slot up very well. He doesn't produce points or chances, nor does he help possess the puck. 3rd/4th liner. Kills penalties. Likeable guy. Been here for ever. I'd rather see Kakko, Kravstov, Buch or Gauthier get the spot opposite Panarin.. Everyone wants to rebuild and talk about the youth, but see Fast as some important cog, instead of seeing what he will actually be. Which is the typical Rangers safe player. "Oh he's not particularly great at anything really, but he won't kill you because he's defensively competent, so they might as well play him 20 minutes a game until Kravstov can work his way up from the 4th line with Brendan Smith as his linemate." .

I don't give the guy over 2.5 - 3 mill for 2 more years. I stop slotting him up. I give the kids ample opportunity to gain their experience while they play on a line with the teams top player.

what exactly is a 3rd liner money? 4th liner UFAs look usually for 1 to 2 mil.

I'd say in the 3 mill range.

Right. While escrow steadily decreases from a high percentage. Normally you'd combat escrow with a higher salary but obviously that isn't possible here. Fast has to wonder whether or not he can really cash in on anything in the coming free agency. Whatever he's going to get is going to be less than he normally would receive. At that rate, is it worth leaving?

 

In my mind, Fast shouldn't even be a casualty, Strome should go before him.

Probably, but my point was that any investment in Fast has to be seen beyond the prism of this coming year's cap because that number is unlikely to change for the following, or even third years' cap. You have to view it accounting for it's potential affect on players due extensions in years two and three (Buchnevich, Chytil, Shesterkin, Kakko, Fox) as well.

Would very much like to see a more offensively talent player than Fast on Panarin's line. Not a knock of Fast; he was very defensively responsible. But would rather see someone who can score, pass, and get to the net, along the wall(one thing Fast was exceptional at, and was missed once he got hurt).

 

Recall when Jan Erixon retired or Freddie Sjustrom went elsewhere, the world did not end. Again, Fast is very good at what he does, one of the best in that role. But that role can be filled, possibly internally or hopefully cheaply. May be not as well defensively, but you would hope better offensively,

If he were to accept the role and understand that he's not going to be a scoring type, I feel Lias Andersson fills a hole left by Fast, as well as for a lower line center. I always envisioned Andersson stepping in once Hayes left. Making his nitch as a defensive forward to get his foot in the door, then go from there with the rest of his game.

With the Rangers need of a bottom line center, if Andersson isn't an option, and Fast is out the door, the Rangers need to look for a PK guy AT CENTER.

He’s making 1.85 per now and turns 29 in December.

Obviously they aren’t likely to go long term on him.

He’s probably in the range of a 3 year deal. If he’s lucky maybe he can get 4.

I’d actually be ok with 4 years at the right number. No reason to think he can’t be effective at 32/33

I don’t get it, unless his ask is ridiculous.

Q: “The Rangers have to build a solid bottom 6 this offseason, who could they get in FA?”

A: “Fast lol, au revoir buddy”

 

He’s exactly the type you hope to find for the bottom 6. Absolute no brainer if the money and term is acceptable.

agree 100% unless his ask is too much, our bottom six is virtual crap and and I would rather have at least one less guy we have to hope and pray turns out to not be dead weight. Give me a guy who can actually play and has proven it over guys who have not. All the potential in the world still only means they haven't done it yet at this level. I don't see all that much potential for many of them. And we have way too many of them and it was exposed in a big way. Our current lack of talent was exposed in a huge way.

If he were to accept the role and understand that he's not going to be a scoring type, I feel Lias Andersson fills a hole left by Fast, as well as for a lower line center. I always envisioned Andersson stepping in once Hayes left. Making his nitch as a defensive forward to get his foot in the door, then go from there with the rest of his game.

 

With the Rangers need of a bottom line center, if Andersson isn't an option, and Fast is out the door, the Rangers need to look for a PK guy AT CENTER.

Would love to see that become reality. But Andersson so far has proven to be a very odd guy. Have no idea what exactly happened, but let's say objectively he doesn't deal well with a coach challenging him.

This should be easy. If they let Fast walk, they will not be able to replace him with someone with equal value for less money. It would be a bad mistake to replace him with another $800K a year glorified AHLer. Have you liked how those type of guys have looked on our bottom 6?

We are going to have less than 15m in cap space and have Georgiev, ADA, Strome, Lemieux all RFAs and Fast UFA. If they aren?t buying out or finding miracles, how are they affording Fast of all people?

If he were to accept the role and understand that he's not going to be a scoring type, I feel Lias Andersson fills a hole left by Fast, as well as for a lower line center. I always envisioned Andersson stepping in once Hayes left. Making his nitch as a defensive forward to get his foot in the door, then go from there with the rest of his game.

 

With the Rangers need of a bottom line center, if Andersson isn't an option, and Fast is out the door, the Rangers need to look for a PK guy AT CENTER.

Andersson can't fill in Fast's spot because as stands he's not remotely as good as Fast at what he does. Andersson's development has been a mess because, amongst other things, he hasn't developed into a player with any particular skillset. He's not a defensive specialist anymore because it hasn't even been a part of his game that he's focused on. In his most recent stint in Hartford he didn't even see time on the penalty kill. The regulars were Nieves, Fogarty, Jones, and Gettinger.

I think Fast is a more important piece than Lemieux at this point.

Agreed. Lemieux isn't a piece, he's a warm body that's here until better reinforcements arrive.

Agreed. Lemieux isn't a piece, he's a warm body that's here until better reinforcements arrive.

He's better than that IMO. Just not better than Fast.

Lemieux brings a nice element to the team, but he should be planted on the 4th line. 3rd line only if injury. And he'll probably only cost 1.2-1.3 per.

He's better than that IMO. Just not better than Fast.

 

Lemieux brings a nice element to the team, but he should be planted on the 4th line. 3rd line only if injury. And he'll probably only cost 1.2-1.3 per.

I disagree. He's mediocre offensively, offers little to nothing defensively, is abysmal in most advanced statistics, isn't a very good agitator. He's just an okay grinder. He's tough and provides some spunk but not nearly well enough to warrant keeping him. He was great when he debuted with the Rangers. He was awful most of last season. I don't think he has much use or future here.

I disagree. He's mediocre offensively, offers little to nothing defensively, is abysmal in most advanced statistics, isn't a very good agitator. He's just an okay grinder. He's tough and provides some spunk but not nearly well enough to warrant keeping him. He was great when he debuted with the Rangers. He was awful most of last season. I don't think he has much use or future here.

But I'm just nitpicking, the rest of the point around Fast being more valuable stands.

I disagree. He's mediocre offensively, offers little to nothing defensively, is abysmal in most advanced statistics, isn't a very good agitator. He's just an okay grinder. He's tough and provides some spunk but not nearly well enough to warrant keeping him. He was great when he debuted with the Rangers. He was awful most of last season. I don't think he has much use or future here.

I won't shed any tears if they agree with your assessment. He's ultimately replaceable.

I think Fast is a more important piece than Lemieux at this point.

Way to cherry pick lol

Way to cherry pick lol

What's cherry picked? Fast > Lemieux.

Yeah but I was simply saying they have a good amount of guys up for contract. It wasn’t a list based on importance in the first place and fast is a UFA which we all know costs a good chunk more than a similar player in rfa status.