Washington Capitals: Top 10 best free agents of all-time
![Brooks Orpik, Washington Capitals (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) Brooks Orpik, Washington Capitals (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/e20ee8c6e145ececbfcb0d92b6f8e20e04fb399d218d121368b944eafc3a1548.jpg)
#6 Jeff Halpern
Jeff Halpern is a great local DMV story. He was signed by the Washington Capitals on March 29, 1999 as an undrafted free agent. In the 1999-00 season, Halpern recorded 29 points with 18 goals and 11 assists. The next year he had 21 goals and 21 assists for 42 points.
In 2001-02, Halpern’s numbers dropped as he scored five goals and added 14 assists for 19 points in 48 games. The next year they went up to 13 goals and 21 assists for 46 points and Halpern crushed it in the 2003-04 season with 19 goals and 27 assists for 46 points.
Halpern returned to the Caps coming off the lockout and recorded 44 points in 70 games in 2005-06 with 11 goals and 33 assists. He would sign with the Dallas Stars as a free agent after the season. He would return to the Capitals on July 1, 2011 for one season. In that one season in 2011-12, Halpern scored four goals and 12 assists for 16 points. Not quite the reunion we hoped.
But what makes Halpern’s story great is that he is a native of D.C. In Potomac, Maryland to be exact. He is currently an assist coach to the back to back Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning. He will be remembered fondly as Capitals fans as a player who grew up in the DMV and made it and others like Joe Snivley will look to follow in his footsteps.