Hurricanes' Jesper Fast likely out for season after surgery

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Carolina Hurricanes forward Jesper Fast is expected to miss the season after neck surgery this month.

The team announced Fast's prognosis Thursday after he had surgery Aug. 6.

Fast, 32, suffered a neck injury in the regular-season finale in April and missed the Hurricanes' sixth straight playoff run, which ended in the second round against the Presidents' Trophy-winning New York Rangers . He didn't specify the nature of the injury during end-of-year interviews in May, describing it as a re-injury.

At the time, Fast was wearing a neck brace and was still stiff a month after the injury. He said tests and evaluations were continuing "to figure out what's going on."

"It's definitely one of the toughest periods in my career," Fast said of missing the postseason.

Fast had six goals and 13 assists in 73 games last season with Carolina.