Ottawa Senators head coach D.J. Smith hopes his club will have a new leader in time for the 2021-22 season.

"We hope to, but that's a decision with (owner) Mr. (Eugene) Melnyk and (general manager) Pierre Dorion," Smith told Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch. "But we feel we're at that time now where we're as close as we've been to naming a guy. It's time for someone to be the leader of this group."

The Senators haven't had a captain since the 2017-18 season. Erik Karlsson wore the "C" for four years before he was traded to the San Jose Sharks.