Sharks' Sherwood calls Kings 'disrespectful,' demands teammates act

Sharks’ Sherwood calls Kings ‘disrespectful,’ demands teammates act

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Sharks’ Sherwood Calls Kings ‘Disrespectful,’ Demands Team Response After 7-2 Loss

San Jose Sharks forward Kiefer Sherwood labeled the Los Angeles Kings’ actions during their 7-2 victory on Wednesday “disrespectful,” telling reporters his team must respond with a stronger performance on the ice. The comments came after a loss that included a players-only meeting and exposed issues for a Sharks team struggling to build on last season’s progress.

The Sharks are now 7-9-1, having lost five of their last six games and seven of their last 10. They rank 28th in the NHL in goals per game (2.53) and are tied for 27th in goals-against per game (3.53). The team’s slide has reignited questions about its ability to end a postseason drought, especially after they finished four points behind the Kings for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference last season.

A Culture Check in the Locker Room

The immediate aftermath of the loss was a sign of the Sharks’ frustration. Sherwood, who has two goals and eight points in 17 games this season, minced no words when describing the Kings’ behavior late in the game.

“They were up 6-2, put their top power play out, (Kings’ forward Artemi) Panarin is 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.”

Kiefer Sherwood, per NHL.com

“It’s unacceptable. It’s not good enough. To a man, to a team. “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.”

Captain Macklin Celebrini, who leads the team with 17 points (6 goals, 11 assists), echoed the need for accountability. “It’s got to change,” he said. "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." The players-only meeting's message was kept private, but its existence shows a team trying to galvanize itself.

Goaltending Woes and a Mounting Schedule

The Sharks’ struggles extend beyond a lack of grit. Goaltender Yaroslav Askarov is 4-7-0 with a .888 save percentage (SV%) and a 3.29 goals-against average (GAA) in 11 games played. Forwards Will Smith, Michael Misa, Ivar Stenberg, and Jacob Trouba are tied for second on the team in points with 10 each, but the overall production remains insufficient.

Sharks' Sherwood calls Kings 'disrespectful,' demands teammates act
Photo: LA Kings Insider

Coach Ryan Warsofsky acknowledged the leadership’s attempt to right the ship. “That’s up to them. It shows that we’ve got some leadership in here, and we’re all frustrated,” he said. The challenge for the Sharks is immense. They will face the Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars to close out their current road trip before a home-and-home series with the Kings on Dec. 9 and 10. The schedule offers no respite, forcing them to solve their issues on the fly.

The Ripple Effect on the Franchise Trajectory

Last season’s 39-35-8 record was seen as a step forward, but regression this season could impact their strategy. The Sharks’ poor start risks alienating young talent like Celebrini and Askarov, who need to be surrounded with a winning culture to develop properly.

Sharks' Sherwood calls Kings 'disrespectful,' demands teammates act
Photo: NHL.com

“We have to look ourselves in the mirror and do something about it,” Sherwood said, a sentiment that now defines the Sharks’ season.

Sherwood noted that bits and spurts of good play are there, but a consistent, team-wide effort is missing. The players-only meeting was a start, but the real test comes on the ice, starting against the Wild on Friday.

The Kings, for their part, will use their team day off on Thursday to reset before practice on Friday.

Disclaimer: The analytical insights and data provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.

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