Jesper Fast is expected to miss the entire season following neck surgery he underwent on August 6 after suffering a neck injury in the regular-season finale in April. The 32-year-old forward missed the Hurricanes' recent playoff run, which ended in the second round against the New York Rangers. Fast described the period as one of the toughest in his career, as he was still dealing with stiffness and uncertainty about his condition during post-season evaluations. Last season, he recorded six goals and 13 assists in 73 games.