NHL Announces Punishment for John Tortorella's Decision After Game 6 Win
The Vegas Golden Knights came into the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Playoffs with their eyes on a very deep run after falling in the first two rounds for the past two seasons following their first Stanley Cup victory.
On Thursday, they clinched their spot in the Western Conference Finals with a decisive victory over the Anaheim Ducks, with the team now lined up to face the red-hot Colorado Avalanche. They won't go into that series without some drama and baggage behind them however, as the National Hockey League announced the punishment for John Tortorella and the organization following a decision after the Game 6 victory.
The @NHL sanctions @GoldenKnights for violations of media policies. https://t.co/fhLS1o5cdfpic.twitter.com/2cVgALtPLZ
— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) May 15, 2026
The punishment may seem like a harsh one, as the NHL stripped Vegas of a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, as well as fining John Tortorella $100,000 for 'flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations.'
This comes after Tortorella and the organization refused to speak with the media and allow the media into their locker room after the victory, with the press release from the league stating that this wasn't the first time they've had an issue with Vegas in these regards:
'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.'
Following the announcement, the Golden Knights took to social media to acknowledge that they've seen the NHL's punishment, but in an ironic twist, the organization has refused to comment further on the situation.
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 15, 2026
All of this seems to be a very unnecessary distraction for a team that will battle the Presidents' Trophy winners over the next few weeks, and while we may not know why Tortorella and Vegas made the decision they did, the punishment is now something they have to live with.
Related: Golden Knights Announce William Karlsson News After 74 Missed Games
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This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 3:01 PM.