NHL fines John Tortorella, strips 2026 2nd-round pick from Golden Knights

The NHL sanctioned the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday after the team and coach John Tortorella violated postseason media rules following their 5-1 Game 6 victory over the Anaheim Ducks that advanced them to the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche. The league ordered Vegas to forfeit its 2026 second-round draft pick and fined Tortorella $100,000 for what it said were flagrant breaches of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs media regulations.

According to the NHL, the penalties were imposed because Vegas did not comply with standard requirements for postgame media access after Thursday’s series-clinching win at Honda Center in Anaheim. Tortorella declined to speak to reporters following the game, and the Golden Knights did not open their dressing room to media members. While Tortorella was not available, some players did speak to reporters at designated locations, including at the postgame podium and in a side room, the league said.

The NHL said it had previously issued warnings to the organization about compliance with the media regulations and related policies, with Friday’s ruling described as the result of repeated noncompliance. The league also cited...