The young San Jose Sharks aren't having the start to the season that they had envisioned.
Following a 7-2 romp by the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night, which brought their season record to 7-9-1, the Sharks held a players-only meeting, the team revealed to media.
"We don't deserve any praise right now," forward Kiefer Sherwood told reporters after the game.
After making big swings in the off-season by adding Jacob Trouba, Darnell Nurse and Mason Marchment to complement a talented young core, the Sharks have stumbled out of the gates and sit sixth in the Pacific Division. Only the Kings and Canucks have a worse record in the Pacific.
"We're frustrated," captain Macklin Celebrini told reporters. "We're not happy with the way we're playing. We need to move forward. You can't really dwell on it."
Wednesday's loss was the Sharks' third in a row and coach Ryan Warsofsky, who signed a multi-year contract extension in September, may now be on the hot seat.
"It's not on the coaches right now," Sherwood added. "We're not winning our battles. We're not being hard to play against. We're not making plays."
Sharks goalie Yaroslav Askarov finished the game with .741 save percentage, stopping 20 of 27 shots.Celebrini and Ivar Stenberg lit the lamp for the Sharks, who play Friday against the Central Division-leading Minnesota Wild.
