Stars sign Jeff Halpern

[jason37 2]

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[DEATHTRON 19]

Were going to lose every game this season......!@#$%^&*

Zach

[donkey87 0]

I can't believe that the Stars wouldn't give Arnott a long term deal but they'll give one to Halpern.

[McCabe24 0]

Halpern's offence is solid and very underrated. I think he has averaged 20 goals over the past four seasons in Washington. The problem with what they have done is Stefan or even Sydor, not Halpern. This signing eases the wound, regardless of the terms.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I liked halpern here in Washington, but he said himself he would not give a home team discount. I think he felt like since he had to get to the nhl the hard way, being undrafted etc, the caps thought they could lowball him.

The local papers ran a bit a couple of weeks back saying the negotiations were not going well, and his departure could be imminent.

He is good in the face off circle, sound defensively, and he can put up numbers. He had always been pegged as just another checking line grinder until the caps went through their firesale, and he was given top line duties. He could feed the puck well, and was not afraid to get in the mix in front of the net.

I like halpern, but there are younger cheaper versions who will hopefully develop for the caps this year, given the extra icetime. I think Sutherby will have to step up his offense and his face offs, but plays a good grinder type game. I think Laich has the skills too.

Halpern is getting $2 million a year at dallas, which I think is more than the caps think he is worth, with their similar players for cheaper in the wings. Its the curse of the caps captaincy, Oates, Kono, Halpern, lets keep the C away from ovechkin.

I think he is a good pickup for dallas, he will play wing, center, PK, PP, leads by example on and off the ice, and was good in the community (obviously his hometown here)

So good luck to Halpy and I hope he does well

[donkey87 0]

Halpern's offence is solid and very underrated. I think he has averaged 20 goals over the past four seasons in Washington. The problem with what they have done is Stefan or even Sydor, not Halpern. This signing eases the wound, regardless of the terms.

Halpern has only had one 20 goal season in his entire career. Last year he score 11. Dallas doesn't need another defensive center, they need someone who will put up points. I'm sure he's a solid player, but I don't think he's a player that Dallas needs right now, especially not for four years.

[DEATHTRON 19]

Ya....we need someone thats going to put up 40+ goals....Dallas Im sure is going to have a good regular season...followed by first round exit in the playoffs.

Zach

[McCabe24 0]

Halpern's offence is solid and very underrated.  I think he has averaged 20 goals over the past four seasons in Washington.  The problem with what they have done is Stefan or even Sydor, not Halpern.  This signing eases the wound, regardless of the terms.

Halpern has only had one 20 goal season in his entire career. Last year he score 11. Dallas doesn't need another defensive center, they need someone who will put up points. I'm sure he's a solid player, but I don't think he's a player that Dallas needs right now, especially not for four years.

Seems I overstated somewhat, he has averaged like 15 goals over the past six seasons with one 48 game campaign in there. Certainly not on Arnott's level but with their cap issues it is up to Stefan and Halpern to offset the losses of Arnott and Kapanen.

EDIT: Do they still have Stu Barnes in Dallas? He could produce 20 goals with the right linemates.

[donkey87 0]

Halpern's offence is solid and very underrated.  I think he has averaged 20 goals over the past four seasons in Washington.  The problem with what they have done is Stefan or even Sydor, not Halpern.  This signing eases the wound, regardless of the terms.

Halpern has only had one 20 goal season in his entire career. Last year he score 11. Dallas doesn't need another defensive center, they need someone who will put up points. I'm sure he's a solid player, but I don't think he's a player that Dallas needs right now, especially not for four years.

Seems I overstated somewhat, he has averaged like 15 goals over the past six seasons with one 48 game campaign in there. Certainly not on Arnott's level but with their cap issues it is up to Stefan and Halpern to offset the losses of Arnott and Kapanen.

EDIT: Do they still have Stu Barnes in Dallas? He could produce 20 goals with the right linemates.

Yes, Stu Barnes is still on the Stars. He's been a great pick up for Dallas. He very good defensivly(sp?), plays a lot on the PK and puts up a decent amount of points. He and Halpern have similiar type of game. That's why I'm surprised Dallas signed him. We have a defensive center, now we need a center who will put up points. I can't see Stefan providing enough offense, so I was expecting Dallas to get a player that was more of an offensive threat. Now I hope we will be trading a defenseman to acquire a scoring forward.

[Cheesehead 0]

big loss to the caps. very big.

[Cheesehead 0]

Speaking of the Caps, have they gotten any help for Ovechkin this off season yet?

doubt it, havent heard anything.

[Chadd 916]

Speaking of the Caps, have they gotten any help for Ovechkin this off season yet?

doubt it, havent heard anything.

Isn't Semin coming back?

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

Speaking of the Caps, have they gotten any help for Ovechkin this off season yet?

doubt it, havent heard anything.

Isn't Semin coming back?

Yep, semin will be here this year, signed a 2 year deal about 2 months ago.

They are also negotiating with backstrom as most feel he is nhl ready, and has excellent on ice vision, so should be good for feeding the puck to ovechkin.

And, as a minor note, they are back talking with Josef Boumedinne (sp), who while not a great defender, would be an upgrade over biron, majesky and the other scrubs who were here last year and can also QB on the PP, good shot and decent passer

But for the most part, no real upgrades. This will be a put up or shut up year for Sutherby, who will assume Halperns role methinks (which may be why he has elected arbitration, thinking he will be more important to the team)

[Patrick67 1]

What are the cap woes, the Cap's have since they don't go out and get some upgrades for their buttomfeeder team?

Add 2 forwards that could put up decent points, and maybe a good d-man, would do wonders for that team.

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

What are the cap woes, the Cap's have since they don't go out and get some upgrades for their buttomfeeder team?

Add 2 forwards that could put up decent points, and maybe a good d-man, would do wonders for that team.

The only problem with this is, GM McPhee is quoted in an article in the washington post saying the caps are done with free agency.

So they sign a #6 D-man to a 4 year contract and thats it

The Capitals, who also lost free agent winger Brian Willsie to the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday, will look to fill the vacated roster spots from within the organization. McPhee has said the team probably won't make any more free agent signings, and instead hopes the club's prospects, particularly those who starred for the Hershey Bears' Calder Cup championship squad, will earn spots in training camp.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6070501139.html

The lineup at the minute looks sort of like

Ovechkin-Zubrus-Clark (maybe fleishman if he has a strong camp)

Semin-Beech (if he has a good camp)-Pettinger

Laich-Sutherby-Clymer

Bradley-Gordon-Klepis

Eminger-Heward

Morrisson-Pothier

Green-Muir

Kolzig-Johnson

Hardly inspires fear.

Although, this past season was probably the best season for me to watch because they went balls out every night (I know there were the langway/hunter/iafrate years, but I only moved here from Ireland in 2000, so missed those)