For the last five years, the Caps have usually had six centers on their roster, with Laich and Gordon playing wings so their centers could cheat on faceoffs. Now the Caps have four proven NHL centers. Shogren and Beagle provide depth, but picking up Halpern for less money than Gordon gets in Phoenix is a steal. Halpern brings the same defense, the same penalty killing, almost the same faceoffs and twice the offense, especially in clutch situations.
When Ovechkin broke into the league, he played on a line with Jeff Halpern. When Alexander Semin first showed that he could be an elite offensive force, in the dismal spring before the lockout, who was his center? Jeff Halpern.
Of course, Gordon has had a shot playing with each of the above stars. Gordon also famously centered Jaromir Jagr's line for the first game after the enigmatic, brilliantly talented disaster came to Washington. Gordon was a highly regarded first round draft pick and the hope was that playing with Jagr could help him reach his potential as a two-way threat. Instead, Gordon went back to spend a few years in the minor leagues and the Caps signed Robert Lang for twenty-five million dollars to try to get some production out of Jagr.
Halpern, on the other hand, was never drafted, and only wound up getting to play with Alexander Semin after every other option, down to Anson Carter, had been traded away. Once he became first line center by default, Halpern passed and shot his way to recognition by the NHL as offensive player of the week.
Steve Whyno at the Washington Times reports that "Gordon was known as the Caps’ best penalty killer and faceoff specialist. He made $800,000 with Washington last year. Gordon had been with the Caps for seven seasons." In the same article, this Whyno can only say of Halpern that he has "good face off skills" and that "Halpern made $600,000 last season, recording 26 points for Montreal."
Whyno gives Halpern's age and previous salary, but not Gordon's. He give's Halpern's modest point total of last year, but he doesn't say that Gordon has only eclipsed that total once, putting up 29 points in 06-07. Halpern has hit 29 points five times, including seasons of 34, 42, 44 and 46 points, all with the Capitals. Halpern has a career high of 21 goals in a season, and has scored eighteen or more goals in three seasons, all with the Capitals. Boyd Gordon has twenty-seven career NHL goals, including two seasons with seven.
Whyno gives both player's salaries of this upcoming year, but he doesn't explain how under the salary cap, signing a more talented fourth line center for five hundred thousand dollars less could allow the Caps to carry another capable player on their roster this year. Whyno didn't say how the same day, the Caps also picked up free agents Roman Hamrlik and Joel Ward to spend their extra cash. That's what he could have seen by press time. What he couldn't have foreseen is the way that spending wisely on a more proven veteran who has a greater history of success in this city with the current players here has already helped give the Caps the flexibility to sign Tomas Vokoun.
Obviously those three contracts are more expensive than just the savings of bringing home a former captain instead of overpaying to retain a mildly successful player. But getting the need for a two-way center met more effectively at a lower price helps all the other pieces fall into place.
More importantly, in a summer where the Caps are desperately trying to prepare for future playoffs, Gordon who has been with the Caps throughout their recent streak of making the playoffs has been in 34 NHL playoff games, notching one goal and four assists. Halpern, who was signed by Dallas to an eight million dollar contract as soon as things got good in Washington, and then got traded to Tampa as part of a deal for Brad Richards, has scored seven goals and six assists in 36 career playoff games. Three of Halpern's seven playoff goals have been game winners. Two came on the power play. Gordon's career playoff goal was short handed, but it was not a game winner.
Which player would you pay twice as much for?
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