David Ling David Ling ( born January 9 , 1975 in Halifax , Nova Scotia ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward who is currently under contract with the Pusteral - Val Pusteria Wolves of the Serie A . Ling was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques with the 179th overall pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft . Playing career . Junior Hockey . Ling played with the Charlottetown Abbies for 3 seasons and in his third season MRJHL as a 17 year old in 1991 – 92 , as he scored 33 goals , 75 points and 270 PIM in only 30 games . Ling also played eight games with the St . Michael ' s Buzzers of the OHA , earning 19 points . Ling made his OHL debut during the 1992 – 93 season , as he had 17 goals , 63 points and 275 PIM in 64 games with the Kingston Frontenacs . Ling had a solid playoff with Kingston , as he had 15 points in 16 games , helping the club to the third round of the post - season . In the 1993 – 94 season , Ling improved his numbers , scoring 37 goals and 77 points in 61 games , as well as accumulating 254 PIM . Ling then chipped in with six points in six playoff games for the Frontenacs . Ling saw his numbers explode during the 1994 – 95 , as he finished second in the league with 135 points , as he scored an OHL high 61 goals , along with 74 assists , helping lead the Frontenacs to best record in the East Division . Ling continued his dominate season in the playoffs , scoring seven goals and 15 points in only six games , as the Frontenacs were upset in the first round while playing with a broken thumb . Ling was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy , awarded to the most outstanding player in the OHL , the Jim Mahon Memorial Trophy , which is awarded to the highest scoring right winger in the OHL , as well as CHL Player of the Year . Ling would eventually see his number 17 raised to the rafters , as the Frontenacs honoured his number . Professional career . Quebec Nordiques . Ling was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in the seventh round , 179th overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft . On June 21 , 1995 , Ling would have his rights transferred to the Colorado Avalanche as the Nordiques relocated to Denver , Colorado to begin play in 1995 - 96 . He would not stay in Colorado for very long , as on July 7 , 1995 , the Avalanche traded Ling and Colorado ' s ninth round draft pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft to the Calgary Flames for the Flames ninth round draft pick in the same draft . Calgary Flames . Ling made his professional hockey debut with the Saint John Flames of the AHL during the 1995 - 96 season , scoring 24 goals and 56 points in 75 games with Saint John , while registering 179 PIM . Ling then appeared in nine playoff games for Saint John , earning five assists . He began the 1996 - 97 season with Saint John once again , however , Ling appeared in only five games , getting two assists . On October 24 , 1996 , Calgary traded Ling and the Flames sixth round draft pick in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft to the Montreal Canadiens for Scott Fraser . Montreal Canadiens . Ling would continue the 1996 - 97 season with the Fredericton Canadiens of the AHL , where he scored 22 goals , 58 points and 240 PIM in 48 games . Ling also made his NHL debut during the season , going pointless in two games with the Montreal Canadiens . Ling began the 1997 – 98 season with Fredericton once again , where in 67 games , he had 25 goals and 66 points . Ling also appeared in one game with Montreal , where he did not earn a point . On March 14 , 1998 , the Canadiens traded Ling to the Chicago Blackhawks for Martin Gendron . Chicago Blackhawks . Ling finished out the 1997 – 98 season with the Indianapolis Ice of the IHL , where he had 14 points in 12 games , then earning five points in five playoff games . On September 3 , 1998 , Ling signed with the Kansas City Blades of the IHL , however , the Blackhawks retained his NHL rights . He had a very solid 1998 – 99 season in Kansas City , scoring 30 goals and 72 points in 82 games , however , he recorded only a goal in three playoff games with the Blades . Ling returned to Kansas City for the 1999 - 00 season , as he had an even better season with the Blades , recording 35 goals and 83 points in 82 games . On August 11 , 2000 , the Blackhawks traded Ling to the Dallas Stars for future considerations . Dallas Stars . Ling was sent to the Dallas Stars IHL affiliate for the 2000 – 01 season , where he struggled offensively , as his numbers dropped to 15 goals and 43 points in 79 games with the Utah Grizzlies . On July 7 , 2001 , Ling left the Stars as a free agent , as he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets . Columbus Blue Jackets . Ling spent most of the 2001 – 02 season with the Blue Jackets AHL affiliate , the Syracuse Crunch , where he had 19 goals and 60 points in 71 games . In the playoffs , he had 10 points in 10 games . Ling also returned to the NHL in 2001 – 02 , where he played in five games with the Columbus Blue Jackets , earning no points while having seven minutes in penalties . Ling played a majority of the 2002 – 03 season with Syracuse , as he had 41 points in 46 games . He was then called up to Columbus , where he finished the season with the Blue Jackets , earning five points in 35 games . The 2003 – 04 season was spent mostly in Columbus , where Ling appeared in 50 games , earning three points and 98 PIM . Ling also appeared in 14 games with Syracuse , where he had seven goals and 17 points , before adding an assist in seven playoff games . On July 29 , 2004 , Ling signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent . Toronto Maple Leafs . With the 2004 – 05 NHL lockout cancelling the NHL season , Ling spent the entire season with the St . John ' s Maple Leafs of the American Hockey League , where he had 28 goals and 88 points in 80 games . Ling then added two points and 43 PIM in five playoff games . Ling left the Maple Leafs organization after only one season , as he signed with Spartak Moscow of the RSL . Russian Super League . Ling played the 2005 – 06 season with Spartak Moscow of the RSL , where he had 15 goals and 32 points in 50 games . He then added two goals and three points in three playoff games . In 2006 – 07 , Ling moved to HC Dynamo Moscow , where he had 26 points in 42 games , followed by three points in three playoff games . Toronto Maple Leafs . Ling returned to North America on July 9 , 2007 , when he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs once again . He spent the entire 2007 – 08 season with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League , where he scored 17 goals and 59 points in 71 games . Ling had a solid playoff run with the Marlies , earning 14 points in 17 games . Europe . Ling left for Europe for the 2008 – 09 season , as he played for EHC Biel of National League A , where he had 22 points in 33 games . Ling then moved to Jokerit of the SM - liiga , as he earned 13 points in 23 games . He played for Jokerit in the playoffs , earning three points in five games .