Golden Knights lose appeal of recent NHL media sanction
The Vegas Golden Knights appealed their recent NHL-imposed sanctions due to forgoing media policies, with it being determined that the punishment is to remain as assessed.
Golden Knights lose appeal of recent NHL media sanction originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . 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.