Veteran free agent forward Jeff Halpern signs with New York Rangers

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Free agent forward Jeff Halpern has signed with the New York Rangers, the club announced Tuesday.

The 36-year-old had four goals and 12 assists in 69 games last season for the Washington Capitals.

The 12-year veteran has surpassed the 40-point plateau four times, and has reached the 20-goal mark twice. He has played 861 career regular season games with Washington, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and Montreal, registering 146 goals and 212 assists for 358 points.

In the playoffs, he has seven goals and six assists in 36 career games.

Halpern's best season came in 2003-04 when he scored 19 goals and 27 assists for his hometown Capitals.

He led Washington, and ranked fifth in the NHL, in faceoff winning percentage last season at 58.3 per cent.