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For the first six years of his NHL career, Washington D.C. native Jeff Halpern played for his hometown Washington Capitals. The centerman served as Capitals captain during the 2005-06 season and set a career-high 33 assists. In July 2006, Halpern signed a four-year, $8 million contract with the Dallas Stars at 30 years old.
In the 2005-06 season, the Stars won the Pacific Division with 112 points, but were upset in the first round of the 2006 Playoffs by the seventh seed Colorado Avalanche in five games.
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Despite not having one 60-point scorer or 30-goal scorer on the team, the Stars finished as the sixth seed with 107 points. Halpern recorded 25 points (8G, 17A) in 76 games played.
In his second game as a Star, Halpern recorded an assist against the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 7, 2006. Halpern scored his first goal as a Star against the Los Angeles Kings 21 days later. Halpern recorded two 3-point games against the Avalanche on Dec. 27, 2006, and Feb. 11, 2007.
Halpern and the Stars played the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 2007 Playoffs. The series was featured by goaltending matchup Marty Turco and Roberto Luongo.
Dallas forced a Game 7 in Vancouver with Turco recording back-to-back shutout wins in Game 5 and Game 6. In Game 7, the Stars lost 4-1 and lost the series. All three of Dallas’ wins in the series were shutouts by Turco.
Halpern recorded 3 points (2G, 1A) in the series. Halpern scored the game-winning goal of Game 2 just 24 into the game as Dallas won 2-0. Halpern scored to make it 2-0 in the third period of Game 6. In the whole series, Luongo allowed 12 goals and Turco allowed in 11 goals.
Halpern recorded 24 points (10G, 14A) with the Stars the following season in 64 games. But, Halpern wouldn’t finish the season in Big D.
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On Feb. 26, 2008, the Stars made a blockbuster trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning for 2004 Conn Smythe Trophy winner Brad Richards. The Stars traded Halpern, forward Jussi Jokinen, goaltender Mike Smith and a 2009 fourth-round pick for Richards and goaltender Johan Holmqvist
The Stars fell in the Western Conference Finals to the Detroit Red Wings in six games while the Lightning missed the Playoffs in 2008. In his tenure in Dallas, Halpern recorded 49 points (18G, 31A) in 140 games.
Before the trade deadline in 2010, the Lightning traded Halpern to the Kings. Just like 2007, Halpern was eliminated in the first round by the Canucks.
Halpern spent the following season with the Montreal Canadiens. Halpern saw another first round exit in 2011 this time by the Boston Bruins in seven games. Halpern returned to Washington for the 2011-12 season.
Halpern recorded 16 points (4G, 12A) in 69 games in his first season back in Washington. The Capitals fell to the New York Rangers in seven games in the second round of the 2012 Playoffs. Halpern played just 2 games and recorded no points in the Playoffs.
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Halpern signed with the Rangers in July 2012. The Rangers placed Halpern on waivers in the 2012-13 lockout 48-game season. In 30 games, Halpern recorded 1 assist for the Rangers. Halpern returned to Montreal when he was claimed off waivers and recorded 2 points (1G, 1A) in 16 games.
In the first round of the 2013 Playoffs, Halpern and the Canadiens were upset in five games against the Ottawa Senators. Halpern recorded 1 assist in the series.
Halpern spent the following season playing for the Phoenix Coyotes. Halpern recorded 12 points (4G, 8A) in 69 games as the Coyotes missed the Playoffs. Halpern didn’t play an NHL game again. In his 14-year career, Halpern recorded 373 points (152G, 221A) in 976 games.
Halpern got his first coaching job in June 2016 with the AHL affiliate to the Lightning the Syracuse Crunch. Two years later, Halpern was hired as a full-time assistant. Halpern was an assistant on the 2020 and 2021 Lightning Stanley Cup championship teams.
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