NHL fines Golden Knights, strips 2nd-round pick

The NHL said Friday that the Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft after what the league called “flagrant violations” of playoff media regulations following Game 6 of Vegas’ second-round series against the Anaheim Ducks. The league also fined Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella $100,000. The penalties were announced in a notice issued by NHL Public Relations on May 15. The NHL said the action followed Game 6 on Thursday, May 14, when Vegas eliminated Anaheim and advanced to the Western Conference final. ### What exactly did the NHL punish Vegas for? The NHL said the sanctions stemmed from violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations after Game 6 of the Ducks series. In its notice, the league did not publicly spell out the specific conduct beyond saying the violations were “flagrant.” The May 15 notice also said the penalties came after previous warnings had been issued to the club regarding compliance with the media regulations and related policies. (media.nhl.com) That detail indicates the league viewed the postgame issues as part of a broader compliance problem rather than a single first-time lapse. ### Why is John Tortorella part of the discipline? (media.nhl.com) John Tortorella, Vegas’ head coach, was fined $100,000 as part of the same ruling. The NHL announcement paired his fine with the club’s loss of a draft pick, but it did not separately describe his conduct in the public notice. The league’s statement named Tortorella directly and listed his fine in addition to the team penalty. (media.nhl.com) The NHL did not announce a suspension in the same notice. ### When did this happen in the playoff schedule? Thursday, May 14, was the date of Game 6 of the Golden Knights’ second-round series against the Ducks, according to the NHL’s sanction notice. (media.nhl.com) The league tied the discipline specifically to events following that game. The NHL’s playoff schedule page shows Vegas had already moved on to face Colorado in the Western Conference final, with Game 1 set for May 20 and Game 2 scheduled for May 22. (media.nhl.com) That means the discipline landed between the end of the Ducks series and the start of the next round. ### How unusual is losing a draft pick over media access? A second-round draft pick is one of the more significant penalties available to the league because it affects a club beyond the current playoff run. (media.nhl.com) The NHL’s notice made clear that the forfeiture applies to the 2026 draft. The league’s public statement presented the draft-pick loss and Tortorella’s fine as a combined response to what it described as “flagrant violations.” The NHL did not, in the same release, announce any additional discipline against players. (nhl.com) ### Can Vegas challenge the punishment? Vegas has been offered the opportunity to appeal the penalties to the commissioner’s office, the NHL said. (media.nhl.com) The league added that any appeal would be held in person in New York next week. The NHL did not say in its notice whether Vegas had already filed an appeal by Friday afternoon. It also did not provide a more specific hearing date in the public release. (media.nhl.com) ### What comes next for the Golden Knights? May 20 is the next date on Vegas’ playoff calendar, with the NHL schedule showing the Golden Knights opening the Western Conference final against Colorado. (media.nhl.com) The appeal process, if Vegas pursues it, would unfold separately through the commissioner’s office in New York. (nhl.com)