The NHL has ruthlessly docked the Las Vegas Golden Knights a second-round pick in next month’s draft and fined coach John Tortorella $100,000 for violating media access rules.
It comes a day after their series-clinching Game 6 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday night.
Tortorella refused to speak to reporters after Vegas routed the Ducks 5-1 to move on to face Colorado in the Western Conference final.
The Golden Knights also did not open their locker room in accordance with league and Players’ Association-negotiated regulations.
‘John Tortorella declined to speak with the media after advancing to the Western Conference finals,’ Jesse Granger of The Athletic, who was covering the game, posted.
‘The Golden Knights also didn’t open the dressing room after the game. They brought one player into a side room to speak, along with the two who spoke at the podium.
The NHL has docked the Las Vegas Golden Knights a second-round pick in next month’s draft
Coach John Tortorella has also been fined a huge $100,000 for violating media access rules
‘I’ve been covering the NHL for nine years and never seen either of those happen once.’
The NHL in a statement announcing the punishment said the penalties for these ‘flagrant violations’ come after previous warnings were issued to the Golden Knights.
The team has been offered the opportunity to appeal to Commissioner Gary Bettman’s office in person at the league’s New York headquarters next week.
‘The Golden Knights are aware of today’s announcement from the NHL regarding the postgame media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim,’ the team said in a statement posted to social media. ‘The organization will have no further comment.’
