Vegas Golden Knights lose 2nd-round pick

The National Hockey League said on May 15 that the Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft after what it called “flagrant violations” of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations following Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks. The league also fined Golden Knights coach John Tortorella $100,000, according to an NHL Public Relations notice. The NHL said the penalties came after previous warnings to the club about compliance with media rules and related policies. Vegas was offered the chance to appeal to the commissioner’s office, with an in-person hearing set for next week in New York. ### What exactly did the league take away from Vegas? The NHL’s May 15 notice said Vegas will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 draft. The same notice said Tortorella was fined $100,000. The league did not, in the notice, specify which exact conduct after Game 6 triggered the punishment beyond describing the conduct as “flagrant violations” of playoff media regulations. (nhl.com) Previous warnings were part of the league’s explanation. The NHL said the sanctions were imposed after the club had already been warned about compliance with the media regulations and “other associated policies.” ### When did this happen in the playoff schedule? Game 6 was played on Thursday, May 14, at Honda Center in Anaheim. (nhl.com) Vegas beat Anaheim 5-1 that night to win the second-round series and advance to the Western Conference Final. The timing matters because the sanction came one day after the series-clinching game. The NHL announcement was dated May 15, while the Game 6 recap identifies May 14 as the date of the Ducks-Golden Knights game after which the violations occurred. (nhl.com) ### Who was named by the NHL? John Tortorella was the only individual named in the league’s disciplinary notice. (nhl.com) The NHL said the Golden Knights coach was fined $100,000 in addition to the club’s loss of the draft pick. The Vegas organization was the team penalized. The NHL’s statement framed the draft-pick forfeiture as a club sanction and the fine as an individual sanction on Tortorella. (nhl.com) ### Did the NHL say what Vegas can do next? Vegas was offered an appeal. The NHL said that appeal can be made to the commissioner’s office and would be heard in person next week in New York. (nhl.com) The league’s notice did not give a specific day for that hearing. It did, however, set out the forum and the timing, making clear that the matter can be reviewed while Vegas remains active in the postseason. (nhl.com) ### What is happening on the ice while this plays out? Vegas advanced to face the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final after eliminating Anaheim in six games. (nhl.com) NHL.com’s Game 6 recap said Game 1 of the best-of-seven series is scheduled for Wednesday at Ball Arena in Denver at 8 p.m. ET. The NHL news page on May 17 also listed coverage related to the Avalanche-Golden Knights series and the 2026 conference-final schedule. (nhl.com) Vegas, then, is moving into the next playoff round while the draft-pick penalty and possible appeal remain unresolved publicly. That last point is an inference from the league’s announced appeal process and the published playoff schedule. On May 20, Vegas is scheduled to open the Western Conference Final against Colorado in Denver, and the NHL has said any appeal hearing would take place next week in New York. (nhl.com 1) (nhl.com 2)