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 AHL, where he had 28 goals and 88 points in 80 games good for third in the AHL scoring race behind only Mike Cammalleri and Jason Spezza. 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 Russian Super League (RSL). Russian Super League Ling played the 2005–06 season with Spartak Moscow of the RSL, where he led the team with 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 AHL, 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