Sharks hold urgent team meeting after brutal 7-2 loss

The San Jose Sharks held a players-only meeting after a brutal 7-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night.

The meeting came during a three-game losing streak.

The Sharks' record has slipped to 7-9-1.

That mark is a concerning one for a team trying to end a seven-year postseason drought this season.

The team has lost four of its past five games.

Those losses include a 5-1 defeat to the Ottawa Senators and a narrow 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames before Wednesday's game.

Forward Kiefer Sherwood did not hold back when asked about the team's performance.

"It's unacceptable," Sherwood said, per NHL.com.

"It's not good enough. To a man, to a team. It's not on the coaches right now."

"We're not winning our battles, we're not being hard to play against, we're not making plays, we're just -- it's not good enough."

"We have to turn it here. We have to stick together here."

Captain Macklin Celebrini also spoke about the team's struggles.

"It's got to change," Celebrini added.

"We can't let it seep into our game, but I mean, we got to be frustrated and not happy with the way we're playing."

"We know what we have in this room, and we believe in each other."

"We're a team, first and foremost."

Celebrini said the team planned to keep the message of the players-only meeting private.

Head coach Ryan Warsofsky said he was happy to see the group take it upon themselves to try to right the ship.

"That's up to them," Warsofsky said.

"It shows that we've got some leadership in here, and we're all frustrated."

The trouble started early for the Sharks on Wednesday.

Adrian Kempe scored less than 90 seconds into the game to give the Kings an early lead.

Kempe scored again later in the first period.

Quinton Byfield added a power-play goal to put Los Angeles up 3-0 after 20 minutes.

Celebrini scored his sixth goal of the season to cut the deficit to two early in the second period.

But the Kings pulled away with two goals later in the frame.

Kempe completed his hat trick during that stretch.

The Kings have been digging out of an 0-4-2 hole to start the season.

They now sit at 5-7-2 after their win over the Sharks.

The rivalry between the two California teams appeared to grow more bitter Wednesday night.

Sherwood took exception to how the Kings finished out the game.

"We have to look ourselves in the mirror and do something about it," Sherwood said.

"(The Kings were) up 6-2, put their top power play out."

"(Artemi) Panarin's blocking shots, celebrating to his bench. It's disrespectful."

"Until we do something about it, things aren't going to change unless we man up and do something about it."

The Sharks will visit the Minnesota Wild on Friday.

That game will be another test for a team trying to find its footing.

The NHL regular season is 82 games long.

A 7-9-1 record translates to 15 points in 17 games.

That puts the Sharks on pace for roughly 72 points over a full season.

In most recent seasons, teams need around 95 to 100 points to secure a playoff spot in the Western Conference.

The Sharks have not made the playoffs since 2019.

That seven-year drought is the longest active postseason absence in the NHL.

The team has undergone significant changes since then.

General manager Mike Grier took over in July 2022.

He has focused on rebuilding through the draft and developing young talent.

Celebrini, the team's captain, was the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

He is considered the franchise cornerstone.

At 19 years old, he is one of the youngest captains in league history.

The Sharks also have other promising young players on the roster.

But the transition from rebuilding to competing has been rocky.

Wednesday's loss highlighted several ongoing issues.

The team allowed three goals in the first period.