The Vegas Golden Knights lost a draft pick for violating NHL media regulations after head coach John Tortorella refused to meet with the media following a playoff game. This breach of protocol has consequences for the team in the upcoming draft.
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Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Following the Vegas Golden Knights’ series-clinching win in their second-round playoff series against the Anaheim Ducks, media members were likely excited to find out what head coach John Tortorella and his players had to say about it.
They never got the chance, as Tortorella declined to meet with the media after the game. Forwards Brett Howden and Mitch Marner spoke at the podium while forward Jack Eichel spoke to the TNT Sports broadcast immediately after the game. They were the only players made available to the media.
The NHL requires head coaches to be available to the media “daily during the Stanley Cup playoffs, following morning skates, practices and games,” and teams must provide a 30-minute media access period in the locker room after practices and games.
On Thursday, the NHL let Vegas know how unamused they were by this violation of the media guidelines.
The league announced it was taking a 2026 second-round draft pick away from the Golden Knights and fined head coach John Tortorella $100,000 for “flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations.”
“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,” said the NHL in a statement, which noted the Golden Knights have the ability to appeal.
In a statement, the Golden Knights said they “are aware of today’s announcement from the NHL” and that “the organization will have no further comment.” They did not say if they would appeal the punishment.
In the first round of the playoffs, Vegas canceled Tortorella’s media availability the day before Game 3 of the first-round series against the .
The Golden Knights lost a draft pick after head coach John Tortorella violated NHL media regulations by not meeting with the media following a playoff game.
NHL media regulations require head coaches to be available to the media daily during the Stanley Cup playoffs, following morning skates, practices, and games.
After the playoff game, forwards Brett Howden and Mitch Marner, along with Jack Eichel, were the only players made available to the media.
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The Golden Knights will meet the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Finals, where they will presumably resume media availability after each game.
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