Tavares to decide if he will speak to teams other than Islanders: report

John Tavares is expected to decide Saturday if he will speak with teams other than the New York Islanders during the free agency interview period, according to TSN.

The 27-year-old center can become an unrestricted free agent July 1. He was selected by the Islanders with the No. 1 pick in the 2009 NHL Draft and has 621 points (272 goals, 349 assists) in 669 games with New York. He has been Islanders captain since the 2013-14 season.
The NHL free agency interview period begins Sunday. A player can speak to teams and agree to terms but cannot sign until July 1. New York can offer Tavares an eight-year contract; other teams can offer seven years.
"Right now, until something is done, it's not done," Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said Friday. "There's no question he's a very important part of this organization and we want him to be here. We'll just have to wait. I'm not going to go any further."
Tavares may invite up to five teams to his agent's office in Los Angeles, TSN reported Friday.
New York (35-37-10) missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a second straight season and hired Lamoriello as president of hockey operations May 22. He fired Garth Snow as general manager and Doug Weight as coach June 5.

The Islanders named Barry Trotz coach Thursday, three days after he resigned as coach of the Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals. Trotz said he has spoken to Tavares.
"We talked about the team, areas that we feel that we can fix together, areas that we can look to improve upon, all those things," Trotz said Thursday. "It was a great conversation.
"If you know anything about John, he's as classy of a captain as you can have in the National Hockey League. He's passionate. He's very insightful, very intelligent. He has one goal, it's just to win. And I'm fortunate that we have the same vision, myself and Lou. We want to build something back on the Island.
"John has been a big piece for a long time, right? He wants to be a part of that as well."