Sheng Peng just reported that the Sharks had a players-only meeting, a notable sign for a team that lost in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
San Jose dropped a 7-2 decision to the Kings, a loss that extended a skid already at two straight. The Sharks had also lost 2-1 to Calgary on Monday, so the slide had been building before this one.
Peng noted that the Sharks held a players-only meeting.
What was said inside that room hasn't come out, and it would be a mistake to guess. But a meeting run by the players, without the coaching staff leading it, usually means the group feels something needs to be settled internally.
Wednesday's game gave them plenty to talk about. Yaroslav Askarov allowed seven goals, and Los Angeles got three from Adrian Kempe and four assists from Artemi Panarin.
The Sharks did get some production. Macklin Celebrini scored on the power play and put five shots on goal, Ivar Stenberg also scored with the man advantage, and Michael Misa added two assists.
What the Sharks still have to fix before Minnesota
Going into Wednesday, San Jose stood at 7-8-1 with 15 points, and the goal differential was already minus-14. Fifty-six goals against in 16 games is the real problem, and seven more in one night only makes it louder.
That's where a meeting like this has to turn into something visible. Talk doesn't clean up breakouts, coverage in front of the crease or the penalties that keep handing the other team power plays.
Ryan Warsofsky has a team that has won only four of its last 10, and general manager Mike Grier is watching the same numbers. A group that is still trying to find its identity can't afford many more nights like this one.
The Sharks don't get long to answer. They are back on the ice Friday, November 6, at Minnesota.
Can a players-only meeting actually fix the Sharks' defensive problems?
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