Franchise has changed since former captain last played here
When Jeff Halpern last played for the Capitals, they were in the midst of a painful rebuild. The team was losing. Verizon Center was half-empty on most nights. Kettler Iceplex, the organization’s state-of-the art headquarters in Arlington, had not even opened.
But as Halpern, 35 and a native of Potomac, returns to the organization where he began his career, he finds a startling new environment – sell-out crowds and a team expected to compete for the Stanley Cup every year. Halpern, then the team’s captain, left as an unrestricted free agent after the 2005-06 season to sign with the Dallas Stars.
“It was definitely tough leaving. It was tough leaving the comforts of playing in D.C. and playing in front of everyone here,” Halpern said at Kettler Iceplex on Wednesday. “At the time with everything being taken into consideration, it was a good decision for me. But it’s been interesting to watch this team go from what we were at the lockout to one of the best teams in the league pretty much year-in and year-out.”
Halpern likely will serve as Washington’s fourth-line center. He signed a one-year, $825,000 contract July 1. Last season Halpern had 11 goals and 15 points with Montreal. That’s the most points he has produced since his final season with the Caps.
Halpern said he never closed the door on returning to his hometown. He grew up in Potomac, attended Churchill High for a year, went to prep school in New Hampshire and eventually Princeton University. He has maintained his same offseason residence in suburban Maryland since 2003. Halpern started the free agent period ready to jump at the first legitimate opportunity that came his way. The fact it was from Washington made for a perfect fit.
In other news, the Caps agreed to a two-year contract with restricted free agent Troy Brouwer. They acquired the 25-year-old forward from Chicago at last month’s NHL draft. The deal is worth $2.35 million a season. That leaves defenseman Karl Alzner as Washington’s lone remaining restricted free agent.
The Caps are over the NHL’s $64.3 million salary cap but can still add contracts up to 10 percent over that number provided they trim back to the ceiling by the time rosters need to be set before opening night. Brouwer ranked fifth in the NHL in hits last season and has totaled 39 goals the last two years.
