Rangers’ Mike Sullivan demotes inconsistent Alexis Lafreniere: ‘We need more’

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.’’