Report: Jeff Halpern to Interview for Capitals’ Head Coach Job

One of the men who assisted Alex Ovechkin’s first career goal could be behind the Washington Capitals bench to see him make history.

Jeff Halpern, who spent seven seasons in Washington during his playing career, is expected to interview for the Capitals’ head coaching job, according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun.

Halpern, 47, has been an assistant coach with the Tampa Bay Lightning since the 2018-19 season, winning two Stanley Cups. After finishing third in the Atlantic Division this season, the Lightning were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday.

A Washington D.C. native, Halpern suited up for seven teams over 14 seasons — including the Capitals from 1999-2006 and the 2011-12 season — during his NHL career. He tallied 152 goals and 221 assists in that time, last playing for the then-Phoenix Coyotes in the 2013-14 season.

LeBrun’s report identifies the first alleged candidate for the team’s head coaching vacancy, created after the team and head coach Peter Laviolette agreed to “mutually part ways” on the first day after the end of the regular season.