There's reportedly a plan in place for the alumnus and DMV native to interview for the Capitals' head coaching gig, but things could change depending on Spencer Carbery.
Tthe Washington Capitals are making their way down their lengthy to-do list as their extended offseason rolls on, and it appears the head coaching search is picking up a bit with a familiar face reportedly set to interview this week.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman said in his 32 Thoughts podcast on Friday that Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Jeff Halpern is supposed to arrive in D.C. this week to interview for the gig.
However, things could change depending on Spencer Carbery, as the former Hershey Bears head coach is a top contender for the job and also has interest from multiple teams.
Halpern is a popular candidate to be the next bench boss, and arguably, he's among the best fits.
He grew up in Potomac, Maryland, played with the Little Caps and signed his first pro contract with Washington. Over seven years with the organization, Halpern played in 507 games and had 230 points, while also sharing the dressing room with the likes of Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson.
The 47-year-old has also spent years now learning from Tampa bench boss Jon Cooper, and he helped lead the Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships and three consecutive Stanley Cup Final appearances.
Still, Carbery appears to remain one of the frontrunners for the job. The former Hershey Bears head coach was well-liked in Washington before taking the Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coaching gig, where he helped Auston Matthews and company make it past the first round for the first time in 19 years.