"The NHL stated that the actions constituted 'flagrant violations' and noted that previous warnings regarding media access rules had been issued to the team."
The National Hockey League has issued sanctions against the Vegas Golden Knights and the team's head coach, John Tortorella, for failing to comply with media access regulations following a playoff game. The team has acknowledged the penalty and retains the right to appeal.
Penalties Imposed
The NHL announced the following disciplinary actions:
- The Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit their second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
- Coach John Tortorella was fined $100,000.
Incident and Background
The violations occurred after Game 6 of the Western Conference second-round playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks on May 14, 2026. Following the game, which the Golden Knights won 5-1 to advance to the conference final, Tortorella did not speak to reporters, and the team did not open its locker room to the media. This conduct violated league and NHL Players' Association regulations.
The NHL stated that the actions constituted "flagrant violations" and noted that previous warnings regarding media access rules had been issued to the team.
Appeal Process
The Golden Knights have the opportunity to appeal the penalties. An in-person appeal hearing has been scheduled for the following week at the league's headquarters in New York, to be heard by Commissioner Gary Bettman's office.
Team Response
The Vegas Golden Knights released a brief statement through social media acknowledging the league's announcement. The statement indicated the team is aware of the punishment and would provide no further comment.
Draft Implications
Due to this penalty and previous draft pick transactions, the Golden Knights currently hold no first- or second-round selections in the 2026 or 2027 NHL Drafts. The team's highest pick in the 2026 draft will be in the third round.