Defenseman Mike Mottau, the Hobey Baker Award winner as the best U.S. college player, has ended his holdout and will report to the New York Rangers' training camp Wednesday morning.

"We have continued to make progress in negotiations and felt it was important for Mike to go there," said Jerry Buckley, Mottau's representative. "We feel confident a deal will get done, and it's important for him to be playing."

	Mike Mottau is trading in his college jersey in for a blue Rangers sweater.

Playing for Boston College last season, Mottau garnered 37 assists before winning the college game's most prestigious award. He was a seventh-round draft pick by the Rangers in 1997.

One of the major issues during negotiations was the fact that new Rangers general manager Glen Sather has never seen Mottau play.

"Glen hasn't seen Mike play, and that's not something you can get past just talking," Buckley said. "We came close enough in the negotiations, and now, it's time for Mike to show them what he can do."

The 6-foot, 198-pound 22-year-old is an excellent skater with superb playmaking skills, similar to one of his boyhood heroes, Brian Leetch, who could very well end up being a linemate of Mottau's.

Mottau is expected to skate with the Rangers on Wednesday and travel with the team to Atlanta for Thursday's preseason game against the Thrashers.

Brian A. Shactman is the NHL Editor for ESPN.com.