San Jose Sharks defenseman Jake Walman was visibly frustrated following Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Nashville Predators.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Jake Walman was visibly frustrated following Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Nashville Predators.
San Jose Sharks defenseman Jake Walman was visibly frustrated following Thursday's 6-5 loss to the Nashville Predators.
Once media members were let into the locker room after the game, Walman sat in his stall with the lower half of his pads on, including his skates. The defenseman stayed there for a long time.
"Just frustrated with the result. I just think that we're a way better team than the results are showing, and that's why it's frustrating," Walman told THN about why he sat for so long. "I think we have a lot of talent and up and down the roster, and a lot of guys that have been there before, so it's just frustrating with the result. I feel like we're way ahead than what our results are showing. So yeah, I guess the message is, just stick with the process."
Walman's frustration is valid. The Sharks have a 4-18-1 record in their last 23 games. San Jose is on a five-game losing streak and has lost eight of the previous ten.
"I feel like nobody's really satisfied with where we're at right now, especially myself. I know it's a we're in a different position than a lot of guys were in previous years, but that same competitiveness is there with with everybody inside, and that's what I felt last night," Walman said. "I'm just a competitive person. [I don't] think we're going to get used to this feeling. It's going turn around [and I] pretty much want everybody to feel that that's not an acceptable result. As long as we're doing the right thing, I want us to push as hard as we can."
The Sharks did push as hard as they could last night. After going down 3-0 early in the first period, the team responded with three fights in four seconds, cutting the lead to 3-2 at the end of the period.
They wouldn't be done fighting back as they would go down 5-2 early in the second period before Macklin Celebrini eventually tied the game 5-5 with a power play goal.
Despite the energy and fun the team seemed to have on the ice during practice on Friday, Walman couldn't shake his frustration.
"I'm still feeling it today. It's just all the way up. Everybody that's made it to this level, it's been hard to get here. I'm sure everybody in this room will tell you that they hate losing, so it's a mutual feeling," Walman said. "Like I said, we're not going to be in this position for [long]. It's not acceptable to feel this. And because I sat in the room after that, I'm sure a lot of guys go home, and they're driving home, and they're pissed off. And likewise, with a lot of people, the same with coaches and stuff, everybody's not satisfied with this result. Eventually, these are all building blocks that we're going to learn and experience."
Walman has been pacing the Sharks' defense as head coach Ryan Warsofsky's No. 1 option. The former Detroit Red Wings d-man has six goals and 21 assists in 38 games. He is also the only Sharks defenseman in the +, as he is +3 this season.
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