The NHL dropped the Vegas Golden Knights a second-round pick in next month’s draft and fined coach John Tortorella $100,000 on Friday for violating media access rules following their series win in Game 6 in Anaheim on Thursday night.
Tortorella declined to speak to reporters after Vegas beat the Ducks 5-1 to face Colorado in the Western Conference final.
The Golden Knights also did not open their locker room in accordance with regulations negotiated by the league and Players Association.
The NHL in a statement announcing the punishment said the penalty for this “flagrant violation” came after an earlier warning was issued to the Golden Knights.
Teams have been offered the opportunity to appeal to Commissioner Gary Bettman’s office in person at league headquarters in New York next week.
“The Golden Knights are aware of today’s announcement from the NHL regarding post-game media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim,” the team said in a statement posted to social media. “The organization will have no further comment.”
Tortorella is a new player on the team.
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The franchise made a stunning move in late March by firing Bruce Cassidy, its Stanley Cup-winning coach, and hiring the 67-year-old journeyman coach with just eight games remaining in the regular season.
Tortorella’s deal is to see the team make the playoffs, and a decision regarding long-term arrangements will be made afterward.
He wasn’t in the league this year when Vegas drafted him six weeks ago but has 24 NHL seasons as a head coach.
Tortorella was a US assistant at the Milan Cortina Games when Cortina won gold.
A year ago, he was the one who left the organization when Philadelphia fired Tortorella with nine games remaining.
He coached Tampa Bay to a Stanley Cup title in 2004 and had a record of 770-648-37 with five teams overall.
Vegas will now face the Colorado Avalanche in the West Finals.
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