Halpern Again Calls Washington Home
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington
Capitals have signed free agent center Jeff Halpern, a former
Princeton standout, to a one-year contract, vice president and
general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club
policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Halpern, 35, played 438 games for the Capitals from 1999-2006 and
captained the team during the 2005-06 season. The
5’11”, 198-pound center has recorded 214 points (87
goals, 127 assists) in his career with Washington, including a
career-high 46 points (19 goals, 27 assists) during the 2003-04
season. In 17 playoff games with the Capitals, Halpern has tallied
four goals and five assists.
The Potomac, Maryland, native collected 26 points (11 goals, 15
assists) in 72 games with the Montreal Canadiens last season. He
logged the second-most shorthanded minutes (2:20) per-game amongst
Canadiens forwards and helped lead the team’s penalty kill
unit which ranked seventh in the NHL. Halpern also finished second
on the team in faceoff percentage (56.9%) and registered one goal
in four playoff games.
Halpern has collected 342 points (142 goals, 200 assists) in 792
career NHL games with Washington, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles
and Montreal. In 34 career postseason playoff games, Halpern has
recorded seven goals and six assists.
Halpern first joined the Capitals as an undrafted free agent on
March 29, 1999, and made the NHL club as a rookie in 1999-2000.. He
has represented the United States in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey
and five World Championships (2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2008). While
in Washington, Halpern was an active member of the community,
helping launch Halpern’s Hometown Heroes to benefit local
charities.
Halpern played youth hockey for the Little Capitals and former
captains Rod Langway and Dale Hunter were among his favorite
players. He played junior hockey in Canada and prep school hockey
in New Hampshire before enrolling at Princeton University in
1995-96. One of only four players to be named Princeton’s MVP
three times, Halpern was the team captain as a senior. He finished
his college career ranking first all-time at Princeton in games
played (132), third in career points (141) and assists (81) and
tied for fifth in career goals (60).
