The Bruins are out in Los Angeles with a small, powerful group to meet with impending free agent John Tavares and his representation on Tuesday during the pre-July 1 interview period. Per a source, general manager Don Sweeney, team pesident Cam Neely and head coach Bruce Cassidy will meet with Tavares, agent Pat Brisson and the rest of the CAA team representing the Islanders center later on Tuesday, and will make their pitch along with contingents from the Leafs, Lightning, Sharks, Stars and, of course, the Islanders for the services of the 27-year-old elite center.
It isn’t expected that any current Bruins are going to sit in on the West Coast meeting, but there probably isn’t much to learn. Tavares and Patrice Bergeron are already well acquainted, having been linemates on Team Canada during the Olympics.
It sounds like, in fact, that the San Jose Sharks might be the only one of the six teams that will bring along players in addition to the usual management/coaching types. While a “bigger is better” philosophy might work, Tavares by all accounts is kind of a low-key, no-frills sort of superstar. So Neely, Sweeney and Cassidy opting for a simple meeting with Tavares feels like it might be the right approach.