Potomac's Halpern Won't Return To Capitals

Jeff Halpern's reunion with his hometown Washington Capitals is coming to an end.

The 36-year-old Potomac native was recently informed by General Manager George McPhee that he won't be re-signed by the Capitals after a one year return to the franchise he began his career with, The Washington Post reported.

Halpern registered four goals and 12 assists over 69 games in the regular season before falling out of favor with recently departed head coach Dale Hunter, according to the report. Halpern did not play in 12 of the final 15 regular season games and was a healthy scratch for the first 12 playoff games before being inserted into the lineup after an injury to fourth line center Jay Beagle.

Halpern told The Washington Post he wasn't surprised by the team's decision to part ways but expects to play next season for another organization.

“I have every intention of playing next year,” Halpern said in the report. “I think at this stage I fill a certain role on a team and when teams are planning for a year, I think there will be a lot that can use what I’m able to do and how I play."

An undrafted player out of Princeton University, Halpern made his NHL debut with Washington as a 23-year-old in 1999. In 2005, he was named the twelfth captain in team history, but Halpern left the organization to sign with the Dallas Stars after the 2005-06 season.

Read the full story about Halpern's departure on The Washington Post.