The Ottawa Senators have asked for and received permission from the Dallas Stars to interview assistant coach Rick Bowness according to TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie.

Bowness will be the sixth candidate interviewed by the Sens in addition to Marc Crawford, Troy Mann, Jacques Martin, D.J. Smith and Nate Leaman. 

McKenzie adds that there is no firm timetable on when Ottawa will name a new bench boss "but the sense is it's more likely than not to be by the end of the month."

Bowness was the team's head coach from the start of their franchise in 1992 up until mid-way through the 1995-1996 season. 

Ottawa parted ways with coach Guy Boucher at the beginning of March. 

The club finished the rest of the season with Crawford behind the bench and ended with the worst record in the league at 29-47-6.