NEW YORK – The NHL has upheld its decision to penalize the Vegas Golden Knights for violating media access regulations, resulting in the loss of a second-round draft pick this year. This decision was confirmed by sources familiar with the situation, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity as the league had not publicly announced the outcome of the Golden Knights’ appeal.
On Friday, the NHL imposed sanctions on the Golden Knights, which included the forfeiture of a second-round pick and a $100,000 fine levied against head coach John Tortorella. These penalties were described as a response to what the league termed “flagrant violations” of media policies. The infractions included Tortorella declining to speak with reporters and the team’s failure to open its locker room following their Game 6 victory against Anaheim in the second round of the playoffs.
In its announcement, the NHL noted that the Golden Knights had previously been warned regarding compliance with media and other operational policies. The team was granted an opportunity to appeal the decision in person to Commissioner Gary Bettman, but this attempt did not result in any reduction or reversal of the penalties.
The forfeiture of a second-round pick is unprecedented in the league’s history regarding violations of media access rules. The Golden Knights are set to open the Western Conference Final against the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night, marking a significant moment in their playoff journey.
In response to inquiries about the sanctions, Tortorella stated, “We put out a statement as an organization, and so we’ll go back that. We have no more comment on that.” The organization’s statement acknowledged awareness of the NHL’s announcement but did not delve into further details.
Tortorella took over as the interim head coach after Bruce Cassidy was dismissed on March 29. Under his leadership, the Golden Knights have shown impressive form, finishing the regular season with a record of 7-0-1 in their last eight games and successfully advancing past both the Utah Mammoth and the Anaheim Ducks to reach the Western Conference Final for the fourth time in their nine-year history.
At 67 years of age, Tortorella is a seasoned coach, having previously led the Tampa Bay Lightning to a Stanley Cup victory in 2004. Throughout his coaching career in the NHL, he has been fined a total of $262,000 for various infractions, showcasing his contentious relationship with league regulations.
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This story has been corrected to accurately reflect that it was Game 6, not Game 5, when Tortorella did not engage with reporters and the locker room remained closed.
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