Breaking: Golden Knights Hit With Significant Punishment, Forfeit Draft Pick

Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella

In a shocking move, the Vegas Golden Knights have been nailed hard by the NHL for their violations of league policy after Thursday night's series victory over Anaheim. They will be forced to forfeit their second-round pick in this year's NHL Draft after head coach John Tortorella refused to talk to the media after yesterday's victory.

BREAKING: The Vegas Golden Knights have been fined $100,000 and will forfeit their 2026 second-round pick after head coach John Tortorella refused to talk to media yesterday. pic.twitter.com/uPoJxDWlno
— PuckEmpire (@puckempire) May 15, 2026

They have also fined Tortorella a whopping $100,000 for violating the NHL's media policy.

Tortorella refused to speak with the media after their Game 6 win put them in the Western Conference Final. He also skipped the handshake line, and refused to open the locker room.

"The National Hockey League announced today that, as a result of flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations following Game 6 of their Second Round series against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, May 14, the Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft," read the NHL statement.

"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."

The Golden Knights will be allowed to appeal the penalties next week if they so choose (which seems like a certainty).

Vegas knocked off the Ducks 5-1 to take their second-round series in six games. They advance to the Western Conference Final against the top-seeded Colorado Avalanche.