NHL docks Golden Knights 2026 pick

The NHL imposed one of its stiffest media-policy penalties on Friday, taking away a 2026 second-round draft pick from the Vegas Golden Knights and fining coach John Tortorella $100,000. The league said the punishment followed “flagrant violations” of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations after Vegas beat the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 in Game 6 on Thursday, May 14, to win the second-round series. The NHL said Vegas had already received previous warnings about complying with media rules. The league also said the club can appeal and that any hearing would be held in person next week in New York. ### What exactly did the NHL announce? The NHL said on May 15 that Vegas will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft. The league announced the sanction in a statement issued by NHL Public Relations from New York. John Tortorella was separately fined $100,000, according to the same statement. (nhl.com) The NHL did not announce any suspension or additional competitive penalty beyond the lost pick and the fine. ### What conduct triggered the punishment after Game 6? Thursday’s Game 6 in Anaheim ended with Vegas advancing to the Western Conference final after a 5-1 win over the Ducks. (nhl.com) Multiple reports published after the league’s announcement said Tortorella did not appear for the mandatory postgame press conference and that the Golden Knights also did not make the locker room available to reporters after the clinching win. The NHL’s own statement did not spell out each missed availability in detail. The league described the conduct more broadly as “flagrant violations” of playoff media regulations following the May 14 game. ### Why did the league describe this as a repeat issue? The NHL said the penalties came “after previous warnings were issued to the Club regarding their compliance with the Media Regulations and other associated policies.” The league did not specify in its statement when those warnings were delivered or which earlier incidents prompted them. (wtop.com) (nhl.com) That line is one reason the punishment stood out. The loss of a draft pick is far more severe than the routine coach fines that leagues often issue for skipped media sessions, and the NHL tied the escalation directly to prior warnings in its statement. ### Which draft pick is Vegas losing? The penalty applies to Vegas’ second-round selection in the 2026 draft, which is scheduled for next month. (nhl.com) Reports following the announcement identified the forfeited selection as No. 61 overall. The lost pick further reduces Vegas’ draft capital for this year. (nhl.com) Team-focused reports said the Golden Knights were already without their first-round pick before Friday’s sanction. ### What has Vegas said publicly? CBC reported that the organization said, “The organization will have no further comment.” The NHL statement itself contained no response from Tortorella or the club beyond the notice that an appeal is available. (wtop.com) The Golden Knights’ team site showed postgame media videos from earlier games in the Anaheim series and listed player availability around Game 6, underscoring that the dispute centered on postgame access after the clincher. (knightsonice.com) ### What happens next? The NHL said Vegas has been offered the opportunity to appeal the penalties to the commissioner’s office. (cbc.ca) The league added that any appeal hearing would take place next week in New York. Vegas’ on-ice schedule also moves on immediately. CBC and other outlets reported that the Golden Knights advanced to face Colorado in the Western Conference final after eliminating Anaheim on May 14. (nhl.com) (cbc.ca) (nhl.com)