Vegas Knights lose 2nd‑round pick, coach fined $100K
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- Vegas Golden Knights were stripped of their second‑round draft pick for this year after violating NHL playoff media rules.
- John Tortorella received a $100,000 fine for “flagrant violations” of the same media regulations.
- NHL noted that the club had previously been warned about compliance with media regulations before issuing the penalties.
- Vegas Golden Knights were offered a chance to appeal the sanctions at an in‑person meeting with the commissioner’s office in New York next week.
- Vegas Golden Knights already lack a first‑round pick (traded for defenseman Noah Hanifin) and now will miss a second‑round pick for four consecutive draft cycles, leaving their next selection in the third round.
- Vegas Golden Knights head into the Western Conference finals against the Colorado Avalanche after a turbulent spring that included firing coach Bruce Cassidy and hiring Tortorella.
Why it matters: The Knights lose a valuable second‑round selection, further depleting their draft capital after already trading away their first‑round pick, while the fine penalizes Tortorella’s non‑compliance; the league’s enforcement underscores stricter media compliance and gives the club a limited window to appeal.
