The Rangers today dealt Mike Mottau to the Calgary Flames for an undisclosed, conditional draft pick.  The former Hobey Baker’s unsatisfying career with the Rangers organization had long been a source of speculation over his future with the team.  Mottau would have begun a free agent this summer, and with the Rangers defensive corps starting to return to health the writing appeared on the wall.

An eighth round draft pick (182nd overall) in 1997, Mottau finished out his career with Boston College before holding out for a contract with the Rangers.  The young defenseman made his NHL that same year, playing in eighteen games across two stints with New York, and registering three assists.

Mottau made just one brief appearance last season as a 7th defenseman after performing well in Hartford, but looked nervous and out of synch.  His performance in this year’s training camp was not enough to protect his job and when a knee injury followed by some indifferent play put an end to a promising start the time appeared right for him to move on.

Based on past experience, the deal will probably not return anything to New York unless Mottau some how breaks into the Calgary Flames line-up.