Golden Knights lose pick, coach fined for boxing out media - ESPN

The Vegas Golden Knights have been stripped of their second-round pick in this year's draft, with coach John Tortorella also receiving a $100,000 fine, for «flagrant violations» of the NHL's Stanley Cup playoff media regulations, the league announced Friday.

The league-imposed sanctions come one day after the Golden Knights didn't open their dressing room to the media while Tortorella also declined to speak with reporters after the team's series-clinching 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the Western Conference semifinals. Some players did speak to the media at the postgame podium.

In a release, the NHL said that «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 NHL also said that the Golden Knights have been offered an opportunity to appeal the sanctions to the commissioner's office at an in-person meeting that would be held next week in New York.

The Golden Knights issued a statement on social media saying they were aware of the league's announcement «regarding the postgame media availability» after Game 6 against the Ducks and would have no further comment.

Vegas was already without its first-round pick for this year's draft, as it was used in a March 2024 trade that saw the Golden Knights acquire Calgary Flames defenseman Noah Hanifin, who played for Team USA at the Olympics.

Losing their second-round pick means the Golden Knights won't have a chance to select a player until the third round of the draft. They have four picks, in the third, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.

The league's decision to take away the second-round pick also means the Golden Knights will not have a