Jeff Halpern is one of the few undrafted players to play in the NHL and have a 20 goal season let alone captain an NHL team
. Halpern played his college hockey with Princeton University from 1995 to 1999. He was signed by the Washington Capitals in 1999 and played his first NHL season in 1999-2000. He spent the next five seasons playing for the Caps until the lockout where he went overseas to play in Switzerland.
When the NHL came back in 2005-2006 Jeff Halpern returned to Washington and was named captain on September 25th 2005. Next off-season Halpern became a free agent and elected to play with the Stars by signing a 4 year contract in Dallas. In the middle of the 2008 season Halpern was involved in a blockbuster trade which saw All-Star Brad Richards and Johan Holmquist go to Dallas in exchange for Jeff Halpern, Mike Smith, Jussi Jokinen and a 2009 fourth round draft pick. The trade must have sparked Halpern as he would go on to score 19 points in the next 18 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
2010's trade deadline day would see Jeff Halpern traded to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Teddy Purcell and a 3rd round draft pick in 2010. Jeff Halpern signed with the Montreal Canadiens early in September 2010.
Halpern plays a grinding type role with much offensive up side. Halpern is in his mid thirties with his best seasons behind him. He possesses a valuable right handed shot at the center position and uses it to his advantage, faceoffs are one of Halperns bread and butter and his handedness makes him all the more valuable to his team. Halpern bases his play largely on his strong hockey sense and being in the right place at the right time since speed is not his specialty.
Jeff Halpern's strengths include his offensive upside for a bottom six grinder, his high hockey sense IQ, his faceoff dominance and his veteran calm, cool and collective presence. Halpern excels on the penalty kill. Some of his faults include his slow speed and at times his passive compete level.
Jeff Halpern is Jewish and actually sat out a game in 2006 to observe Yom Kippur. Halpern captained the 2008 USA team in the World Championships.