Capitals Sign Jeff Halpern to One-Year Deal

Jeff Halpern is heading back to the team he started his NHL career with. The Washington Capitals announced on the first day of free agency that they have signed the 35-year-old center to a one-year contract worth $875,000. In 72 games last season with the Montreal Canadiens, he scored 11 goals and 15 assists for 26 points. He missed the last four games of the 2010-11 regular season and three playoff games with a lower-body injury. Not a bad signing for the Capitals, as Halpern will bring lots of veteran depth to the team. He's a decent defensive forward who is great on the penalty kill, so he should be a very effective forward for Washington next season.