
The NHL has stripped the Vegas Golden Knights of their second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Head coach John Tortorella has also been fined $100,000.
The NHL announced the punishments on Friday, citing “flagrant violations” of the league’s playoff media policies after Thursday’s series-clinching win over the Anaheim Ducks.
The Golden Knights failed to open their dressing room to reporters after their 5-1 win to move on to the Western Conference Finals. What’s more, Tortorella didn’t talk to reporters after the game, either. Instead, he went straight to the team bus after shaking the hands of the Anaheim coaching staff and failed to take part in the end-of-series handshake line.
The team only made Brett Howden, Mitch Marner, and Shea Theodre available after the game.
The NHL says that the penalties come “after previous warnings were issued to the Club regarding their compliance with the Media Regulations and other associated policies.”
Vegas can appeal the punishments via an in-person hearing with the commissioner’s office. Should the team proceed, which is expected, it will take place next week in New York City.
“The Golden Knights are aware of today’s announcement from the NHL regarding the postgame media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim,” the team said in a statement on social media. “The organization will have no further comment.”
By being stripped of its second-round pick, Vegas is now without a first- and second-round pick in June’s NHL Draft. Its first-round pick was part of the trade in March 2024 that brought Noah Hanifan to the desert.
Should the sanctions hold after appeal, Vegas will be without its second-round pick for the next four years. The team has already traded away second-round picks for 2027, 2028, and 2029 in previous deals. The Golden Knights are also without their first-round pick in 2027, unless it’s in the top 10.
Vegas, while working through the appeal of the punishment, has another series to prepare for. The team opens the Western Conference Finals on Wednesday against the Presidents' Trophy winners, the Colorado Avalanche, in Denver.


