The Vegas Golden Knights’ head coach John Tortorella was fined $100,000 and stripped of a second‑round draft pick after refusing to meet reporters following a 5‑1 win in Game 6 of the Pacific Division Final. the NHL upheld the sanctions despite the team’s appeal, leavinng the Knights to refocus on their next matchup against the Colorado Avalanche.

John Tortorella fined $100,000 after media snub

According to the league’s statement, Tortorella declined to attend the post‑game press conference and kept the locker room closed,directly violating the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations. The NHL cited a prior warning to the franchise and imposed the maximum monetary penalty allowed under the rules.

Second‑round draft pick srtipped despite appeal

The league also removed a second‑round selection from the Knights’ 2027 draft assets, a sanction that remained in place after the team’s formal appeal was rejected. As the NHL announced, the draft penalty is intended to reinforce compliance across all playoff clubs, not just a single incident.

Playoff media rules: NHL’s escalating enforcement since 2022

The current penalties echo a pattern of stricter media oversight that began in 2022, when the NHL first introduced mandatory locker‑room access for postseason games.. Since then, teams have faced escalating fines for repeated violations, and the Knights’ case marks the first time a draft pick has been taken away for a media breach.

Will the Knights’ media policy change before the Finals?

Unclear whether Vegas will revise its media approach ahead of a potential Stanley Cup Final appearance; the league has not diclosed any further investigations , and the Knights have not publicly addressed future press‑room protocols.