Can't see trading a recent 1st rounder for a honestly still unproven player, even with potential, the Rangers are trying to move now ESPECIALLY to a team that should be tearing down compared to getting "now" assets to play.

True. But while he may be more of a "Now" asset, he's a 22 year old "Now" asset. Not some Veteran pushing 30 who's staring at UFA status.

Yes, but even a 22yr asset in a 4-5 year rebuild isn't super helpful. Why trade strength farther down the road to be slightly better now?

Both Grier and Quinn are talking about improvements to make the playoffs this year. SJS appears to be more on a retool than a rebuild. They are pretty set at Center depth (Hertl Couture Eklund Bordeleau) and have a deficit in near-term RHD prospects. Merkely is there but I don't believe they think he is an answer.

Eklund seems more likely to be a LW in the NHL, but otherwise this seems accurate. How would NY react to Ozzy Wiesblatt or Tristen Robins?

Don't know a lot about either. But with their being a preference towards a C Prospect, I would think that would rule out Ozzy.

Lundkvist is the NYR RHD insurance for this year, and any trade must be worth it to give this up. Wiesblatt and Robins are good prospects but wingers or in Robins case more likely a winger in the NHL. They would be blocked from getting on the roster with Cuylle and Othmann sure to make the team next year. The NYR is looking for a Center prospect with a 2c upside to slot into the 3c role down the road. Bystedt was a bit of reach at his draft position but has the makings to be defensively responsible/PK if he hits. It is a gamble but one I think the NYR would make prior to the season.

sharks have 6-7 Top 9 NHL caliber Forward prospects. and 1-2 top 4 D prospects who are 19-21 Lundqvist would fit perfectly with this group and we’re not 4-5 years for a rebuild more like 2-3 we’ve already spent 2 + years rebuilding and improving our prospect depth.

You also have a bunch of awful contracts that eat up so much cap room that will limit how good you can be now and have years on them.

2 years and most of the bad ones will be gone.
Couture Hertl and Karlsson are still good but need to perform better. Vlassic will be bought out in 23 or 24 (prefer 24)
labanc kunin Simek lindblom will all expire in 24 and the NHL will have a large cap increase in 24 per most reports.
plus we have a fairly solid group of prospects who will be filtering into the NHL for n the next 2 years.
add a top 5 guy in 23 and 24 and a FA or two and the team will be looking much better by 24
then as Couture and Karlsson’s deals expire their cap hits will be used to resign those ELC that are expiring. it works if you look at the long term