Why the NHL punished Golden Knights so much for media violation
Las Vegas punched its ticket to the Western Conference Finals on Thursday night, but its actions after the Game 6 win came at a cost.
The Las Vegas Golden Knights are heading back to the Western Conference Finals after securing a 4-2 second-round series win over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night, but it isn't all good news in Sin City. Following the 5-1 Game 6 win, longtime NHL coach John Tortorella did not line up for postgame handshakes, and he refused to speak to the media . Now, the league is making the Golden Knights pay for it.
On Friday, the NHL stripped Vegas of a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL draft for what it deemed a "flagrant" violation of league media policies. Tortorella was also personally fined $100,000 for his antics. According to a report from Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet 590 in Toronto, Las Vegas' frustration stemmed from the NHL's decision to suspend defenseman Brayden McNabb for Game 6 after a hit that injured Ducks forward Ryan Poehling in Game 5.
NHL swings hammer at @GoldenKnights and John Tortorella for skipping media avail after their Game 6 win over the Ducks. - Forfeit 2026 2nd-round pick - Tortorella fined $100,000. NHL claims penalties are after "previous warnings" on media regulations.
VGK can appeal pic. twitter. com/kOhL5zJsBv — Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) May 15, 2026 According to Elliotte Friedman on @FAN590 , the Golden Knights were furious over the Brayden McNabb suspension, which reportedly led to last night’s post-game antics 😳 pic.