I think the problem with your proposal is with Ottawa giving up the 4th overall pick, particularly if they do not have their own first in 2019 (CO trade). It doesn't really work for a team that may be rebuilding (seeking further clarification on whether Ottawa is actually rebuilding at this point).
I hear you.
Other than Staal who is obv at half swapped for Ryan at full, all the assets NY is sending are highly desirable esp for Melnyk, i.e., young, elc., with Skjei an rfa mid 20s entering his prime.
I think the quantity of that justifies including 4OA.
However, we can lose some assets for NY and have Ott keep 4OA.
Somewhere someone said there was a basis to think that so many good prospects coming out this year that up to as many as 50 could be viewed as 'first rounders', a reference to level of talent, not number actually selected. If that is true, a rebuilding team needing depth would not suffer with all those picks.
That works for me as well.
The rumor was a lot less than what I put on the table, basically Skjei +Staal ++ for just EK + Ryan.
I'll do
Andersson elc + Skjei rfa + TB2019 2nd [can morph into a 1st] + Staal, 5.7 reduced half to 2.85 x3
for
Karlsson
Ryan, full pop
That version gives you 2 cheap but solid assets this year, let's you save most of Ryan's cap this year and if you buy out or flip the easy to buy out Staal next year, you recover nearly all of it. All that cap gives you a second chance at UFA market.
TB's next year is a sweetener.
In lieu of the 4OA
NY will focus on moving up from 2 of slots 5OA-8OA
adding Pionk, Buch to later picks, hopefully retaining 9OA.
edit add:
one poster [forget who] did a breakdown.
If you factor in all the variables, who has cap space, who is a fit for EK, territorial considerations, Rangers are on a short list of landing spots.
Relevant point is EK is available, it is not like you have 20 something potential suitors, only a small couple.