The National Hockey League didn’t let the Vegas Golden Knights celebrate their Western Conference Final berth for too long. According to an announcement from the league office, the Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit their 2026 second-round pick, and head coach John Tortorella will be fined $100K for “flagrant violations” of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations.
Although the punishment was unknown, this was an expected outcome for many. In the announcement, the league shared, “The imposition of these penalties comes after previous warnings were issued to the Club regarding their compliance with the Media Regulations and other associated policies.” After last night’s series-clinching win, Vegas closed the locker room doors to the media, and Tortorella refused to meet with them.
According to the league, the Golden Knights will have the ability to appeal the punishment, though they likely won’t have much leverage, given that they’ve been warned multiple times. Still, instead of arguing for a complete erasure of the punishment, Vegas may argue themselves into a slap on the wrist with an understanding that a harsher punishment will be had if something like this happens again.
Regardless, the loss of a second-round pick puts Vegas in a deep hole. Although they normally trade away their draft capital or trade away the prospects, they now lose one for nothing. After today’s news, the Golden Knights don’t have another second-round pick at their disposal until the 2030 NHL Draft.
The Golden Knights offered a press release of their own, saying, “The Golden Knights are aware of today’s announcement from the NHL regarding the postgame media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim. The organization will have no further comment.“
FAFO if I’ve ever seen it
There’s a lot about hockey that’s better than other sports. Really and truly. It’s the class of the sports world.
This? This is the opposite of that. Taking a second rounder away because a guy doesn’t talk to the media? Whatever the rules about media access are, that’s so egregiously over the line it doesn’t feel like the league is prioritizing any level of fair play over their own hurt feelings. Fine them, figure out something – taking a player from a team over something like this is the definition of lunacy.
Whatever a person thinks of Torts/Vegas (and I’m not a fan), this is absolutely wild, unnecessary, and about as wrong as a commissioner’s office can be.
I’m not a Vegas fan either – but when your in a League – ALL teams must follow the same rules you set.
Torts always seem to think they are special and can do his own thing.
The team had already been warned so they should not even have a .05% shot at getting their 2nd rd pick back.
Just like it was a farce when Ott got a first (32nd) back in this next draft after they were sanctioned
Torts just has a way of making new friends. 🤣
Curious as to why the media was locked out, though I hardly feel badly for most of them.
This organization really believes it’s above the rules, eh? First circumventing the salary cap, now this.
Lighten up Francis You’re sad
Please explain how the salary cap was circumvented when the moves made were legal under the cap rules in place at the time.
You can circumvent the cap without breaking the rules in the same way you can circumvent paying taxes without breaking the law. A player conveniently being “fit to play” on day one of the playoffs isn’t breaking the rules, but it’s clearly done in order to circumvent the cap. Do you understand now?
Hot air from Bet-man. He’ll TACO like Don