With the Rangers preparing to move on from captain Jacob Trouba, that seismic maneuver could be just the first domino.

The Blueshirts, who have been struggling to win games while also coming up short when it comes to effort, have made Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk their "primary target" via trade, reports Larry Brooks of The New York Post.

Per The Post, it's possible budding star Alexis Lafreniere could be part of a package sent to Ottawa if the Rangers are able to acquire Tkachuk.

Rangers president and GM Chris Drury has been looking to shake New York out of its malaise, with him making it clear to the rest of the league last month that his underperforming club was open for business.

If the Rangers are able to swing a deal for Tkachuk, they will be getting a 25-year-old offensive force.

Tkachuk has scored 30 or more goals each of the last three seasons, and already has 13 goals and 16 assists in 25 games this season.

He is under contract through the 2027-28 season, with an annual cap hit of $8.205 million.

As far as Lafreniere, he emerged in a big way last year in his age-22 season, notching 28 goals and 29 assists during the regular season and adding 14 more points (eight goals, six assists) in 16 playoff games.

Lafreniere signed a seven-year, $52.1 million extension at the end of October that takes him through the 2032-33 season.

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