
NHL fines Tortorella $100K and forfeits Knights' 2026 second-round pick in playoff media dispute
The NHL fined Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella $100,000 and forfeited the team’s 2026 second-round draft pick for flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations, including closing the locker room to the media and Tortorella’s refusal to meet with reporters. Vegas can appeal, though a harsher outcome could follow if violations recur. The loss of the second-round pick is a significant setback, as the Knights won’t have another 2nd-round selection until 2030. The team released a brief statement and did not elaborate further.
