Predators veteran captain Mike Fisher the latest former Senator with a chance to win the Cup

Over a span of five days in the second half of the 2010-11 season, the floundering Ottawa Senators began a rebuild.

They traded one popular and still productive veteran, who went on to win a Stanley Cup, just after trading another, who is now four wins from doing the same.

None of the players they selected with the draft picks they received in return are still with the Senators.

“That was a difficult time,” Chris Kelly said in the Senators dressing room Tuesday morning.

Kelly earned a ring with the Boston Bruins four months after leaving the Senators, then signed back on with Ottawa last summer.

“It was just the situation, how the year was going. They had to make those tough decisions, and they made them.”

Kelly remembers bracing himself when Mike Fisher was moved earlier the same week. Everybody did.

“As soon as he got traded, I think eyes were wide open, that the flood gates were about to open up because Fish was such a figure here for so many years,” Kelly said.

Fisher, now captain of the Nashville Predators, smiled through an injury that had him on the shelf Monday night as he accepted the Clarence Campbell Trophy on behalf of the Western Conference playoff champions.

Kelly did not send his old friend a text of congratulations, however.

“We might play him, so I’m not wishing him well,” Kelly joked.

Like a lot of people in Ottawa, Kelly made it clear he’d be cheering for Fisher if the Senators didn’t advance.

“For sure. Absolutely. The only one I was really disappointed in seeing him get the Cup was (goaltender Ray) Emery because he beat us in ’13 (with the Chicago Blackhawks). But in the handshake, I was very happy for him. Everybody else I was happy for. (Centre Antoine) Vermette, I was happy for him.

“I think Fish is just a good person,” Kelly added. “I’m sure he has the respect of everyone in that room and everyone in that organization. Not only by the way he plays, but (also) the way he conducts himself off the ice as well.

“There’s reason they’re in the finals. Everyone is playing well for them. Everyone is contributing. And they have that belief. That’s what you need.”