In Boston, Fluto Shinzawa reports the Bruins "have promoted" Assistant GM Don Sweeney to GM, replacing the fired Peter Chiarelli. Sweeney, who served as Assistant GM for six seasons, is the franchise's eighth GM. Sweeney this past season took the title of GM for the AHL Providence Bruins and "was in charge of hockey operations" for the franchise. He has "also worked on contract negotiations and scouting" for the NHL Bruins. Sweeney will report to Bruins President Cam Neely. The team is holding a 1:30pm ET press conference to make the announcement (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 5/20).
PARTY HARD: In S.F., Matier & Ross note the Warriors are "capitalizing on playoff fever by hosting viewer parties in sports bars on both sides of the bay aimed at drumming up support not just for" the team, but "for the team's proposed arena in Mission Bay." Admission to the bar parties "is free, but a portion of proceeds from beer and liquor sales goes to the Warriors’ charity foundation." Once inside, fans "can pick up rally towels, thunder sticks and other freebies at swag tables -- where they are also asked to sign up as possible arena backers." Warriors spokesperson Nathan Ballard said the idea is “to capture the interest that is already there.” Ballard: “There are no strings attached” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 5/20).
OPEN INVITATION: The TORONTO SUN cited a Montreal newspaper report as indicating that the Canadiens are "interested in a professional basketball franchise to share" the Bell Centre with them. Canadiens Exec VP & COO Kevin Gillmore "paid a visit" to NBA HQ in N.Y. last January and met with Commissioner Adam Silver "about the possibility of pro basketball in Montreal." Silver "dashed his hopes" by saying that the NBA "doesn't have a team available to relocate and is not expanding" (TORONTO SUN, 5/16).
