NHL upholds sanctions against Golden Knights for violation of media access policy after appeal

The NHL has upheld sanctions levied against the Vegas Golden Knights for “flagrant violations” of the league’s media access policy, standing by the ruling that the club will forfeit its 2026 second-round pick and head coach John Tortorella will be fined $100,000 after an appeal was heard on Tuesday.

Golden Knights president George McPhee and general manager Kelly McCrimmon attended a hearing at the NHL’s head office in New York for the appeal. The penalties levied against the organization remained unchanged upon the conclusion of that meeting, leagues source told The Athletic. There remains a possibility that the situation could be reevaluated down the road if Vegas remains compliant with the rules.

The NHL handed down its punishment on Friday after Tortorella skipped his postgame news conference on Thursday night and the team failed to allow locker-room access to reporters following a Round 2-clinching victory in Anaheim. In announcing its decision, the NHL said: “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.”

Tortorella declined comment when asked about the NHL’s ruling over the weekend, pointing to a team statement from a day earlier.

pic.twitter.com/Y8Y2pLQliG

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) May 15, 2026

The NHL’s media regulations call for head coaches to be made available to reporters “daily during the Stanley Cup playoffs, following morning skates, practices and games.” Teams are also required to provide a 30-minute media access period to reporters in the locker room after practices and games.

After Thursday’s 5-1 victory in Anaheim, the Golden Knights’ public relations staff told media members that the team would not open the dressing room for players to speak to the media and cited congestion in the Honda Center hallway as staffers attempted to take bags to the team bus. Mitch Marner and Brett Howden spoke at a news conference, and Shea Theodore spoke briefly in a separate room outside of the visiting dressing room at the Honda Center.

Anaheim Ducks coach Joel Quenneville spoke at the podium after his team’s loss, after which the Golden Knights’ public relations staff informed the media that Tortorella would not be speaking but did not provide a reason.

The Golden Knights are scheduled to open the Western Conference final against the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Wednesday night.