NHL Punishes Vegas for Media Rules Breach Ahead of Western Conference Final

NHL strips Golden Knights of 2026 pick, fines Tortorella for media violation

Vegas Golden Knights were penalized for violating league media regulations, just as they prepare to face Colorado in the Western Conference Final.

Tortorella, 67, missed the postgame presser after clinching against Anaheim, prompting NHL disciplinary action ahead of the WCF...

The NHL docked the Vegas Golden Knights a 2026 second-round draft pick and hit head coach John Tortorella with a $100,000 fine on Friday for breaking league media rules.

The 67-year-old coach skipped the postgame press conference after Vegas clinched the series against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. The Golden Knights also kept outside media out of the locker room for postgame interviews.

Forwards Mitch Marner and Brett Howden did speak to reporters for about 10 minutes. During that time, Marner mentioned they were on a tight schedule since Tortorella and the team bus were about to leave.

Mitch Marner and Brett Howden were worried that John Tortorella and the bus were going to leave them at the arena 😭 pic.twitter.com/mgokDqjiH6

— BarDown (@BarDown) May 15, 2026

According to an NHL statement, the Golden Knights had already received warnings about violating media access rules before this incident.

Vegas declined to comment on the severity of the penalty.

After closing out the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 on Thursday, the Knights advance to the Western Conference Final. They’ll face the NHL’s top-seeded Colorado Avalanche, who defeated the Minnesota Wild in five games.

pic.twitter.com/Y8Y2pLQliG

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 15, 2026

Game 1 is set for Wednesday, May 20th.

This marks Vegas’ first trip to the Western Conference Final since 2023, the same year they went on to win the Stanley Cup.