2:43PM: The Rangers are getting 24-year old forward Nick Merkley in return for Bitetto. (Friedman)
Merkley was the 30th pick in 2015 by Arizona, was traded to the Devils in 2019 as part of a deal for Taylor Hall and was traded to San Jose this past summer.
He has 41 career games in the NHL, with four goals and 11 assists, and has 11 goals and 25 assists in 43 AHL games this season.
2:38PM: The Rangers have traded Anthony Bitetto to the Sharks. (Kevin Weekes)
Bitetto played 14 games for the Rangers last season and has played 39 games for Hartford this season.
Adam Rotter: This is just a depth move and hopefully gives Bitetto a chance to get back to the NHL. He got to spend most of last year with the Rangers, either playinf or on the taxi squad, but this year he never really had a chance or a path to playing in the NHL. He was a local guy and had that goal against the Capitals last year as a nice moment for him.
Merkley is probably nothing more than a a guy for Hartford, but he was a first round pick and has scored in the AHL.