Reports: Knights lose appeal of punishment for media violations

Field Level Media|published: Tue 19th May, 13:02 2026

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Vegas Golden Knights at Utah Mammoth

May 1, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Vegas Golden Knights head coach John Tortorella addresses the media after game six of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Utah Mammoth at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

The Vegas Golden Knights were unsuccessful in their appeal to commissioner Gary Bettman to adjust the punishment handed down by the NHL for violating media regulations, multiple outlets reported on Tuesday.

The appeal came after the league announced last week that the Golden Knights would forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. The league also levied a $100,000 fine to head coach John Tortorella for what the NHL called "flagrant violations" of media regulations.

Tortorella was not made available and the locker room remained closed to the media following Vegas' 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the Western Conference second-round series. Mitch Marner and Brett Howden took questions from the media at the podium, with the players saying the team bus was leaving in 10 minutes.

While the Golden Knights have not issued an explanation for their decision with the media, Sportsnet reported the team was frustrated by defenseman Brayden McNabb's one-game suspension for interference earlier in the series.

The NHL imposed these penalties after previous warnings to the Golden Knights regarding its media regulations and other associated policies.

The Golden Knights will take on the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference finals, beginning in Denver on Wednesday.

--Field Level Media

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