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The Vegas Golden Knight's fine of $100,000 for Head Coach John Tortorella and the organization being stripped of its 2026 second-round draft pick is to remain as assessed.
The Golden Knights made the appeal to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman on the morning of May 19 for the punishment they were assessed for "flagrant violations" of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoff media regulations. The initial punishment has been upheld, as reported by ESPN's Emily Kaplan. The original sanctions came down on May 15, which was one day after the Golden Knights didn't open their dressing room to the media after Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks. Tortorella also did not make himself available to the media at all.
The game resulted in a Vegas series-clinching 5-1 win over the Ducks in the Western Conference semifinals.
Mitch Marner and Brett Howden did take questions from media at the podium, but with the players stating the team bus was leaving in 10 minutes.
Vegas Golden Knights sanction to remain as originally issued
An official explanation from both Tortorella and the Golden Knights has yet to be provided on their decisions that night with the media. Reports have surfaced that the Vegas franchise was frustrated by Brayden McNabb's one-game suspension for interference earlier in the series.
Kaplan reported that it was a pattern of behavior and repeated warnings that led to the unprecedented punishment.
The Vegas Golden Knights appealed the NHL’s punishment in person this morning.
It was determined that the penalties - a $100,000 fine for John Tortorella and loss of a second round draft pick - will remain as assessed.
As a result of these sanctions, the Golden Knights will not pick until the third round of this year's NHL draft, which begins June 26 in Buffalo. Vegas traded its first-round pick to acquire defenseman Noah Hanifin in 2024.
Tortorella was hired in late March after the Golden Knights fired coach Bruce Cassidy while in playoff position.
Prior to this year's run — in NHL postseason games, Tortorella’s teams have earned an additional 56 wins as part of 12 different trips to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. His clubs earned a division title on three different occasions (2002-03, 2003-04, 2011-12), made two appearances in the conference finals (2003-04, 2011-12), and one in the Stanley Cup Final (2003-04).
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