Bates Battaglia Jonathan " Bates " Battaglia ( born December 13 , 1975 ) is an American professional ice hockey left winger , and is currently playing with the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League . Playing career . Battaglia was drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the sixth round ( 132nd overall selection ) of the 1994 NHL Entry Draft . Growing up , Bates played hockey in Park Ridge , Illinois , under Coach Tom Godwin . He played on the three - time NCAA National Championship Lake Superior State University Lakers from 1994 – 1997 . On March 18 , 1997 , Battaglia was traded by the Mighty Ducks to the Hartford Whalers for Mark Janssens . He made his professional debut in the 1997 – 98 season with the Beast of New Haven of the AHL before making his NHL debut with the Carolina Hurricanes in their inaugural season . Battaglia established himself as a NHL regular with the Hurricanes , enjoying his most successful period as a third of the BBC line ( Brind ' Amour , Battaglia , Cole ) during their 2001 – 2002 Stanley Cup run . On March 11 , 2003 , Battaglia was traded by the Hurricanes to the Colorado Avalanche for Radim Vrbata . His tenure was short as he was traded at the start of the 2003 – 04 season by the Avalanche , along with Jonas Johansson to the Washington Capitals for Steve Konowalchuk . During the 2004 NHL lockout , Bates Battaglia joined his younger brother Anthony on the Mississippi Sea Wolves of the ECHL for the 2004 – 05 season on February 21 , 2005 . On October 2 , 2005 , Battaglia was signed by the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League to a one - year deal . The following season , Battaglia signed as a free agent to parent club the Toronto Maple Leafs to a one - year contract on July 2 , 2006 . Battaglia re - signed as a free agent with the Leafs to a two - year contract on July 2 , 2007 . On December 13 , 2007 , Battaglia was assigned to the Toronto Marlies on a conditioning stint , however he was left in the minors for the duration of the season . Battaglia was again assigned to the Marlies at the start of the 2008 – 09 season and posted a respectable 51 points in 59 games for the Marlies . A free agent in the 2009 – 10 season , Battaglia signed with AHL team Syracuse Crunch on November 11 , 2009 . After 29 games with the Crunch , Bates left the club after signing a contract for the rest of the season with Finnish team Jokerit of the SM - Liiga as an injury replacement on January 28 , 2010 . On December 8 , 2010 , Battaglia signed a 25 - game professional try - out contract with the AHL ' s Rochester Americans . After contributing only 3 points in 20 games with the Amerks , Battaglia was released and signed with Lausitzer Füchse of the German 2nd Bundesliga . Battaglia ' s brief stay with Füchse was limited to 2 games due to injury and on March 16 , 2011 , he returned to North America and signed to again join his brother , Anthony , at the Tulsa Oilers of the Central Hockey League . Personal life . Battaglia lives in Raleigh , North Carolina , the home of his former team , the Carolina Hurricanes . He owns a neighborhood bar called " Lucky B ' s Around The Corner , " located in the heart of Raleigh ' s Glenwood South District . He is the grandson of Chicago Outfit loanshark and muscle man , Sam Battaglia .