WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Washington Capitals today re-signed center Jeff Halpern to a one-year contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced. In keeping with club policy, financial terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

Halpern, 28, was the Capitals’ leading scorer this past season. The Potomac, Md., native scored 19 goals and had 27 assists for 46 points – all career highs – in 79 games with the club.

He was also named the NHL’s Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending April 4. In that week Halpern led all NHL scorers with eight points, netting four goals and four assists in four games while adding a plus-8 defensive rating.

“We are pleased to have Jeff under contract,” Capitals general manager George McPhee said. “He is an important part of our future. He played some excellent hockey under [head coach] Glen [Hanlon] and we expect him to continue to improve. We also value his leadership given the number of young players we will have in the lineup.”

The 6’0”, 198-pound center signed as a free agent with the Capitals March 29, 1999. In five seasons with Washington, Halpern has notched 76 goals, 94 assists and 272 penalty minutes in 368 games.

Halpern was named to Team USA for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, which will begin August 30 and culminate with the championship game held at Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Sept. 14. He also skated for the United States at this year’s IIHF World Championships. He scored two goals and had two assists, helping lead the team to a bronze medal.