The San Jose Sharks have provided LA Kings fans a lot of fond memories over the past four years.

Sure, there have been a lot of Kings wins, but it’s the way that Sharks find new ways to lose and shoot themselves in the foot that makes the memories even greater.

This includes last season’s dramatic seven-game series that ended in a Kings #ReverseSweep win, quite possibly the greatest non-Stanley Cup Final series in Kings history.

Sad Game 7 Joe Thornton forever.

In the wake of #ItWas3toNothing, the Sharks are now providing even more fantastic fodder for Kings fans to enjoy. And now we’re finally seeing what the series did to fracture that team into tiny pieces that will never be repaired.

It all started last offseason when it appeared that the Sharks would attempt to trade their longtime captain Joe Thornton in order to move the team in a younger direction. Everyone agreed this would be a dumb idea. But an even dumber idea would be for General Manager Doug Wilson to say he will shake up the team and then do nothing.

Mckenzie "I think the Sharks are going to trade Joe Thornton anyway, or explore that option" — Hope_Smoke (@Hope_Smoke) May 30, 2014

Thornton, #SJSharks may both be better off parting ways http://t.co/G9M8YJsqyp — Kevin Kurz (@KKurzCSN) May 28, 2014

Joe Thornton would accept a trade if "the fans didn't want him in San Jose" – but they'd be crazy to trade him – http://t.co/ZAnvhRNEp1 — Rory Boylen (@RoryBoylen) June 10, 2014

Alas, Wilson decided against the idea of trading Thornton, or more likely, he couldn’t get him to waive his no-move clause, and hung on to his future Hall of Fame center.

Now it was time to mend fences and prepare for the new season with Thornton leading the charge!

It’s official – #SJSharks will enter training camp with no captain, and no alternates, per Wilson and McLellan — Kevin Kurz (@KKurzCSN) August 20, 2014

…or not.

So the Sharks have muddled their way through the season and now sit outside the playoff picture, which even led to speculation that the team would possibly look to move Thornton at the trade deadline. While not ideal, this would at least allow them to move forward without the distraction of constant speculation regarding Thornton’s future.

Can confirm report by @KatieStrangESPN that #SJSharks have not asked Joe Thornton to waive his no-trade clause. — David Pollak (@PollakOnSharks) March 1, 2015

Of course.

Well, at least the team could now focus on the final stretch drive of the season. They knew who their teammates would be and this is the team they will be going to battle with on a nightly basis.

The franchise was set and nothing could rock that boat!

…no, no. That could never happen with Wilson in charge.

From the San Jose Mercury News:

Sharks general manager Doug Wilson pulled the curtain back Thursday night on the thinking behind the team’s decision last August to take the captaincy away from veteran center Joe Thornton. The topic was raised in a question-answer session with about 350 season-ticket holders before the Sharks faced the Nashville Predators, and Wilson prefaced his remarks by saying he is a huge Thornton fan. “He cares about the game so much. The reason we took the ‘C’ off him … Joe carries the weight of the team on his shoulders, and he’s got such a big heart that when stress comes on him, he lashes out at people,” Wilson said, “and it kind of impacts them. “The pressure and stress, I felt, was getting to Joe,” the general manager said. “And I sat him down and said we need other players to step up and share this. He got it. He didn’t like it, but he got it and he understood it.”

And finally, the most amazingly Sharks thing to ever happen was that Thornton finally had enough.

Simmering issues boiling over in SJ. #SJSharks Thornton on latest from GM Wilson on taking away the 'C': "Doug needs to shut his mouth." — David Pollak (@PollakOnSharks) March 13, 2015

It’s hard to blame him. I mean, why on Earth would a general manager keep throwing his best player under the bus like this?

Everything I've been told regarding the Thornton/Wilson situation is that Wilson is trying to scapegoat Thornton in order to save his job. — Adam Herman (@AdamHerman_BSB) March 13, 2015

Oh, Sharks, why do you make it so easy? :) pic.twitter.com/0kmcNM9Iv1 — Earl Sleek (@earlsleek) March 13, 2015

Please, never ever stop Shark-ing, Sharks!