The Vegas Golden Knights appealed NHL sanctions tied to a “flagrant violation” of media policy. The penalties included a $100,000 fine for head coach John Tortorella and the loss of a 2026 second-round draft pick. An in-person hearing with league officials determined the penalties would remain as assessed. The sanctions followed Vegas eliminating the Anaheim Ducks from the second round of the playoffs, after which Tortorella declined postgame media responsibilities and the team did not open the locker room to reporters. The NHL cited prior unheeded warnings, including canceled media events, limited access to captain Mark Stone, lack of a press conference for signing Carter Hart, and revocation of a reporter’s press pass after questions about the Hart signing. Carter Hart was signed to a two-year contract in October.
"The Vegas Golden Knights appealed the NHL's punishment in person this morning. It was determined that the penalties - a $100,000 fine for John Tortorella and loss of a second round draft pick - will remain as assessed. - Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) May 19, 2026"
"Soon after, the NHL stripped the Golden Knights of their draft pick and fined Tortorella $100,000, citing previous unheeded warnings. According to SinBinVegas' Ken Boehlke, some of the prior transgressions the NHL could have been referring to included the team canceling a press conference in Utah just 30 minutes before it was supposed to happen during the first round of the playoffs, refusing to make captain Mark Stone available to the media after his return from injury earlier this year, the lack of a press conference to address signing goaltender Carter Hart, and a reporter from The Athletic getting his press pass revoked for asking defenseman Noah Hanifin his opinion on the team signing Hart."
"After Vegas eliminated the Anaheim Ducks from the second round of this year's playoffs, head coach John Tortorella spurned his postgame media responsibilities, and the team didn't open up their locker room to reporters. The NHL stripped the Golden Knights of their draft pick and fined Tortorella $100,000, citing previous unheeded warnings."
"Hart was one of the "Hockey Canada Five," who were subjects of a high-profile sexual assault case stemming from a 2018 incident in London, Ontario, after Team Canada's gold medal win at the 2018 World Junior Championship. The Golden Knights signed Hart to a two-year contract in October, and he is currentl"
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