The NHL has specific media policies that involve a head coach talking to the media. That means opening up your locker room and getting those hard-working journalists in to talk to the bigwigs. Well, it seems that Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella didn't get the memo and declined to speak to the media.
The result? A lost 2026 second round pick and John Tortorella being fined $100,000.
The Golden Knights will forfeit their 2026 second round pick, and John Tortorella has been fined $100,000.
— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) May 15, 2026
“The imposition of these penalties comes after previous warnings were issued to the Club regarding their compliance with the Media Regulations & other associated policies.” https://t.co/ipErFUG75V
One player speaking in a side room and two others speaking at the podium instead of the head coach speaking? Well, that will cost you a draft pick and enough money to buy a new car.
Of course, the Vegas Golden Knights don't really care about these things for a couple of reasons. One, money is money and it'll always come back to you. Two, the Golden Knights haven't done much in the area of draft picks.
Yes, you can point to prominent stars such as Pavel Dorofeyev as a shining example of this. Heck, you can even go as far as pointing to past figures like Nicolas Hague. However, most of the current Golden Knights have been either trade acquisitions or free agent pickups.
You can go even further and point to prominent prospects like Braeden Bowman, who were undrafted, in this regard. Thus, does it really matter that the Golden Knights are sacrificing a draft pick and money for media relations? No, it doesn't because the team is focused on one goal: the Stanley Cup.
Therefore, don't buy too much stock into the latest John Tortorella news. The Golden Knights left Game 6 with one goal in mind: focusing on the Colorado Avalanche and nothing more. It's a mindset that has made Vegas one of the NHL's most successful franchises and it could lead to something more this postseason.
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