Golden Knights Forfeit Draft Pick as Part of Major NHL Punishment

The NHL isn't playing around when it comes to rule breaking, and the Vegas Golden Knights found that out the hard way.

Just 24 hours after the team declined to open up its locker room to media and head coach John Tortorella refused to speak with reporters after Vegas' 5-1 series-clinching win over the Anaheim Ducks in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NHL dropped the hammer on the Golden Knights.

Vegas will have to forfeit its second-round pick in the 2026 draft, and Tortorella was fined $100,000 for violating the league's Stanley Cup playoff media regulations. The Golden Knights can, however, appeal the league's ruling to the commissioner's office.

"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," the NHL announced in a statement.

The team responded on social media: "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."

Losing its second-round pick is a gut punch for Vegas, which is already without its 2026 first-round pick, which was sent to the Calgary Flames in a trade for defenseman Noah Hanifin last March.

This isn't the first time the Golden Knights have thumbed their nose at the NHL's media regulations. The team canceled Tortorella's media availability the day before Vegas played the Utah Mammoth in Game 3 of their first-round series.

Tortorella also has a personal history with getting disciplined by the league.

He was suspended two games and fined $50,000 back in 2024 for unprofessional conduct toward officials, he was fined $20,000 for being critical of officials in January 2020, and he was fined $25,000 for leaving a postgame press conference early in August 2020.

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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 10:03 PM.