Mike Sullivan came up with a few tweaks to the lineup heading into Monday’s game against Seattle at Madison Square Garden, perhaps most notably dropping Alexis Lafrenière from the second line to the third, with Gabe Perreault moving to the second.
Following the team’s morning skate in Greenburgh, Sullivan said the switch was “performance-based” and said the Rangers were looking for better production out of the consistently disappointing former first-overall pick whose playing time dipped in his previous two games.
While Sullivan has made clear he likes Perreault’s game and wants to give the 20-year-old more opportunities, the coach also left no doubt he’s not satisfied with Lafrenière, who has just nine goals on the year — and two over his past 16 games.
Asked about the decision, Sullivan said, “Part of it’s performance-based. … We need more. We need more out of some guys. I think [Lafrenière] is a guy who can bring more to the table for us.”
In Monday’s 4-2 loss to Seattle, Lafrenière was ineffective again skating alongside Noah Laba and Brennan Othmann — although Othmann provided a brief early spark after being recalled from AHL Hartford.
“[Lafrenière] and I have had the conversation and part of my job is trying to provide a pathway for players to thrive and succeed,’’ Sullivan said. “I think [Lafrenière] is an extremely talented player. He’s a good player. … We think he’s capable of next-level play [and we] try to find a way to get him there.’’
Othmann hit the post twice Monday after a strong recent performance in the AHL, but he’s still waiting for his first NHL goal.
“We’re looking for players to earn their way onto the roster,’’ Sullivan said. “If they can make an impact, they’ll get a chance to play.”
Sullivan acknowledged that Matt Rempe was “not completely healed” from the thumb surgery that cost him 24 games earlier in the season. It’s part of the reason Rempe sat on Monday.
“We want Rempe to make an impact on the game,” Sullivan said. “Hes not completely healed. That’s just the reality. When he’s at his very best, he makes an impact and you know what that impact looks like.”
That impact, largely, is at least the threat of fighting.
After returning from a broken thumb suffered in a fight with the Sharks’ Ryan Reaves in October, Rempe hasn’t dropped his gloves- which has made him much less effective.
With the 6-foot-9 enforcer out, Taylor Raddysh was moved to the fourth line, alongside Jonny Brodzinski and Sam Carrick.
Othmann’s arrival coincided with Gabe Perreault replacing Lafrenière on the second line, as Sullivan’s faith in the 20-year-old has grown.
The coach has praised Perreault’s improvement, especially with his poise with the puck and his playmaking ability.
He’s gotten fairly consistent playing time over the last three weeks, although he entered Monday with just one assist over his previous seven games.
Will Cuylle has gone eight straight games without a point and Sullivan wants him to get to his style of play, saying Cuylle should “be a north-south guy” who is at his best when he goes to the net and plays with physicality. That would allow him to take advantage of skating with playmakers Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, which is why he’s on the top line.
“Sometimes, depending on which line we put him on, he has a tendency to get away from that north-south, straight-ahead game that we think he thrives in,’’ Sullivan said. “I think it’s been sporadic.”
Sullivan said Adam Fox (long-term IR) and Igor Shesterkin (IR) are “status quo.”
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