Senators Fans Won’t Miss The Irony Of Vegas Suddenly Having To Forfeit A Draft Pick

As a result, the NHL announced Friday that, because of “flagrant violations” of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs media regulations, the Knights will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, while Tortorella was fined $100,000.

Apparently, for the Knights, this was not a first-time offence. The league’s press release went on to say that the penalties came after previous warnings had been issued to Vegas regarding compliance with media regulations and other associated policies. The Knights will have the chance to appeal at the commissioner’s office in New York next week.

They did make two players, Brett Howden and Mitch Marner available to the media. Before taking questions, though, Marner warned reporters he would have to wrap things up within 10 minutes for fear that Tortorella would order the team bus to leave without them.

And it was truly hard to say if he was kidding or not.

It’s possible this was a protest or statement, similar to what the Barrie Colts did the night they advanced to the OHL Final. In that case, after the Colts were told they couldn't have the whole team in on the media availability, head coach Dylan Smoskowitz and captain Kashawn Aitcheson answered every media question by saying, “Nobody cares. Work harder.”

According to Elliotte Friedman, the Knights post game behaviour was also a protest.

“I guarantee you that thing last night was in reaction to the McNabb suspension,” Friedman said on Friday, guesting on The FAN Hockey Show. “They were really upset about it.”

Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb was suspended for one game for his late hit that injured Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Poehling during Game 5 of the series.

A second-round pick and $100,000 fine is a pretty damn expensive protest, especially when you consider that McNabb’s one-game suspension (for Game 6) was now over.

Whether it was a protest or not, how could a Senators fan do anything but chuckle at all of this?

I mean, imagine that. It's Vegas that will lose a pick in next month’s draft and not Ottawa. For Sens fans, the irony is delicious.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:

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