The Viktor Fasth era in the NHL likely just ended. The goaltender has signed a contract with CSKA Moscow of the KHL.
#CSKA of the #KHL agreed to terms with Viktor Fasth #Oilers #NHL
— Igor Eronko (@IgorEronko) July 9, 2015
Fasth, an unrestricted free agent, most recently skated with the Edmonton Oilers and was a huge disappointment. The Oilers went on to bring in Cam Talbot and Fasth failed to find any suitors on the open market.
The story of Fasth’s time in the NHL is fascinating. He broke into the league with the Anaheim Ducks and immediately won his first eight games. He finished the 2012-13 season with a 15-6-2 record and a 2.18 GAA. Fasth’s success took the league by storm and the Ducks soon signed him to a two-year, $5.8 million extension.
Unfortunately, Fasth underwhelmed in five games in 2013-14 (2.95 GAA and a .885 save percentage) and the Ducks traded him to the Oilers at the 2014 trade deadline. He was marginally better in Edmonton to close out 2013-14, but things went downhill in a hurry and even bottomed out in 2014-15 when Fasth had a 3.41 GAA and a .888 save percentage in 26 games.
The Oilers were intent to let Fasth hit free agency and the rest of the NHL opted for other options in what proved to be a free agency period loaded with goaltending talent. Barring an immediate and incredible effort in the KHL, it’s likely we’ve seen the last of Fasth in the NHL.
