Sharks GM Holds Special Meeting With Players: "It's Unacceptable"

After back-to-back blowout losses in which they gave up 10 goals in each game (first time that's been done in the NHL since 1965), the woeful San Jose Sharks had to answer directly to their general manager Monday morning. Mike Grier laid it on the line for the winless team in a private players meeting.

Grier met w/Sharks players as a team this AM. Wants to see how players respond before making changes.

"If I don't see what I want to see, we'll be evaluating everything and looking at everything. This can't go on for much longer. The fans deserve more."
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) November 6, 2023

Despite the team being in all-out rebuilding mode, the ongoing losing isn't sitting well with Grier. “There are certain things I won’t tolerate and some of that stuff has been happening, and I them know that.

"If I don't see what I want to see, we'll be evaluating everything and looking at everything. This can't go on for much longer. The fans deserve more... It's not anything I take lightly."

#SJSharks GM Mike Grier met w/reporters. Was open about what he's seen, esp. the last 2 games.
"It's unacceptable from my standpoint, from the player's standpoint. (It) can't happen. It's something we're going to work to correct. Starting with me, everyone's got to be better."
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) November 6, 2023

"It's unacceptable from my standpoint, from the player's standpoint. (It) can't happen. It's something we're going to work to correct. Starting with me, everyone's got to be better," continued Grier.

On what he needs to see, the GM offered: "Better compete, more pushback. ... (Those two 10-goal games were) too easy for Vancouver & Pittsburgh here. It's just been too easy to come into our building and in play, guys zipping pucks around and other teams thinking it's a point night. It's not acceptable."

The Sharks dealt away their one bonafide star this past summer by sending Norris Trophy Winner Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins. But that can't account for all of this disastrous start to the season.

"We are where we are as a franchise and what we're going through, the process of transitioning," said Grier. "We expected some pain as we go through this but, the last two games in particular it hasn't been good enough."

For now, says the GM, head coach David Quinn and his staff are safe... But not if embarrassing losses keep piling up at this rate.

Photo: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports