Jason Williams Jason Williams ( born August 11 , 1980 ) is a professional ice hockey winger who is currently playing for the Wilkes - Barre / Scranton Penguins . He has played with the Chicago Blackhawks , Atlanta Thrashers , Columbus Blue Jackets , Detroit Red Wings , and Dallas Stars . Playing career . Williams was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Detroit Red Wings on September 18 , 2000 . He played the first few years with Detroit ' s minor league affiliates in the American Hockey League ( the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks and the Grand Rapids Griffins ) . In 2001 – 02 , he played 25 games with the Red Wings and scored his first career NHL goal . Williams would also suit up for the Red Wings in 9 playoff games en route to a Stanley Cup championship . When NHL play was halted due to the 2004 – 05 NHL lockout , Williams played overseas in the SM - liiga with Porin Ässät . Returning to the Wings in 2005 – 06 under new head coach Mike Babcock , Williams broke out with 21 goals and 58 points , frequently playing on a line with Steve Yzerman and Robert Lang . On October 22 , 2005 , Williams notched his first career hat trick in a 6 – 0 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets . All three goals came in the first period of that game ; it was the first time Red Wings player scored three times in a single period since Darren McCarty ' s hat trick in the third period of game one against the Colorado Avalanche in the 2002 Western Conference Finals . Following Williams ' breakout season , he re - signed with Detroit on a new two - year deal worth $ 3 . 2 million . On November 8 , 2006 , during a game against the Edmonton Oilers , Williams was injured when he was checked from behind the net by Raffi Torres , causing his head to hit the ice . Williams was taken off the ice on a stretcher and taken to Detroit Medical Center . He was released from the hospital on November 9 with facial lacerations and a first - degree concussion . The Red Wings put him on the injured reserve list , causing him to miss a minimum of 10 days . According to the Red Wings , he never lost consciousness . Later that season , Williams was sent to the Chicago Blackhawks on February 26 , 2007 , in a three - way trade that also included the Philadelphia Flyers . The Flyers received a 3rd round draft pick and Lasse Kukkonen from the Blackhawks in exchange for Kyle Calder ; in turn , the Blackhawks sent Calder to the Red Wings in exchange for Williams . After a 36 - point season in 43 games with Chicago , Williams became an unrestricted free agent and was signed by the Atlanta Thrashers on July 13 , 2008 , to a one - year , $ 2 . 2 million deal . On January 14 , 2009 , Williams was traded by the Thrashers to the Columbus Blue Jackets for Clay Wilson and a 6th round draft pick . WIlliams performed well with Columbus , scoring 12 goals to go with 17 assists for the remainder of the 2008 - 09 NHL Season as the Blue Jackets qualified for the playoffs for the first time in their history . Williams and the Blue Jackets were swept in the first round by Williams ' former team , the Detroit Red Wings . Recent Years . On August 6 , 2009 , Williams returned as a free agent to the Red Wings after signing a one - year contract . On November 7 , 2009 in a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs , Williams suffered a fractured fibula , and missed several weeks with the injury . On January 29 , 2010 , Williams was activated off of injured reserve from his injury . He scored a powerplay goal in his first game back from injury against the Nashville Predators , a 4 - 2 Red Wings victory . On December 27 , 2010 , Williams was signed by the New York Rangers and played for their AHL affiliate , the Connecticut Whale . On February 11 , 2011 , he was released from his PTO with the Whale . Williams was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Stars on February 12 , 2011 . On July 26 , 2011 he signed a 1 - year two - way contract worth $ 600 , 000 with the Pittsburgh Penguins . International play . Williams played for the Canadian national men ' s hockey team in the 2006 World Championships .