NHL gets very tough on Golden Knights' violation of media policy
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The NHL has penalized the Las Vegas Golden Knights by stripping them of a second-round pick in the 2026 draft and fining coach John Tortorella $100,000 for serious violations of the league’s media policies.
- The penalties followed incidents where Tortorella refused to speak to reporters and the team limited media access by not opening the dressing room and only allowing three players to be interviewed after a key playoff win.
- The NHL stated that the team had previously been warned about media compliance, and the Golden Knights have the option to appeal the sanctions.
- Unlike the NHL, the NFL rarely punishes teams or coaches for media policy violations, often relying on teams to voluntarily fulfill media obligations to maintain positive coverage.
- The NHL’s strict enforcement highlights the league’s recognition of the importance of media coverage as free advertising and an essential component of promoting the sport.