NHL punishes coach who snubbed reporters with $100,000 fine, lost draft pick

The NHL fined John Tortorella $100,000 after the Vegas Golden Knights head coach did not fulfill his media obligations May 14, skipping his postgame session with reporters after his team clinched a berth in the Western Conference finals.

In addition, the Golden Knights will have to forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft — an unprecedented punishment for Tortorella’s inexplicable absence after a crucial game.

In a statement announcing the punishment, the NHL said: “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.”

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The Golden Knights can appeal the penalty to the commissioner’s office. The appeal would be held next week in New York.

“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 league said in a statement.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Golden Knights were frustrated by Brayden McNabb’s one-game suspension for interference, leading to the stunt.

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The Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 in Game 6 of their best-of-seven series on May 14 in Anaheim.

Mitch Marner’s breakaway goal one minute into the game set the tone for Vegas, which led 3-0 before Anaheim scored its first goal with 7:14 left in the second period.

Marner leads all NHL players with 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists) in the playoffs.

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All in all, there was a lot for the Golden Knights to celebrate — usually the prelude to a long postgame press conference or two by the winning team.

Not only didn’t Tortorella speak to reporters, the Golden Knights didn’t open their dressing room after the game. They brought one player into a side room at the Honda Center in addition to two who spoke in a press conference room after the game.

Now, Tortorella and the Golden Knights will have to pay the price for their absence — literally.

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