Why Senators fans should support Project Mayhem

Yesterday, we predicted which Senator(s) would be at the 2012 NHL All-Star Game. I now wish I could go back in time, because if Twitter is any indication, there's going to be a lot of familiar faces at that game.

Not current Ottawa Senators, mind you, but previous ones. You see, our friend Chemmy at Pension Plan Puppets hatched a scheme with a reader to vote former Senators to the All-Star Game. They figure nothing would irritate fans in the nation's capital like seeing Dany Heatley, Martin Havlat, Marian Hossa, Zdeno Chara, Ray Emery, and Chris Campoli at Ottawa's All-Star Game. This idea, nicknamed Project Mayhem, spread like wildfire over Twitter and various blogs, and now it's all but certain that come voting time, we'll see these names at the top of the voting.

Glancing at Twitter, it appears that there are a few Senators fans who are irked at the idea, but for the most part, Senators fans recognize and appreciate the humour involved in it. However, I'm inclined to do more than just laugh at it -- I think Senators fans should fully support the movement. In fact, why not expand it? What about Sami Salo? Antoine Vermette? Mike Comrie? Wait, he might actually be a Senator again by the time the All-Star Game rolls around.

This is the Ottawa Senators' 20th anniversary season (as the team won't let us forget), and these players are a part of the modern Senators' heritage. Some of that history is a bit ugly, but it's still a part of Senators history.

Furthermore, how many times have you seen comments on this blog or various message boards wondering what the Senators would be like if they hadn't traded Zdeno Chara, or Marian Hossa, or Marty Havlat? Here's a chance to see some of our favourite players from the past decade, perhaps playing on the same team for the first time in years, and we'd be able to cheer them on. You're lying to yourself if you wouldn't want to see Chara team up with Erik Karlsson on the blueline during a powerplay, or Hossa feed Daniel Alfredsson for a one-timer. It would be a pretty fitting part of the 20th anniversary celebration, wouldn't it?

Yes, I do realize that Sens fans would have to see Heatley in the All-Star Game, but that doesn't really deter me. He's been named to the All-Star game four times (including recently in 2009) and there was a chance he'd get in regardless of this movement. Also, there's always the chance he could get picked last in the All-Star draft... unless Phil Kessel has a return to form, of course.

Would you like to see an All-Star Game filled with ex-Senators?