05/19/26 07:14:00
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05/19 19:12 CDT NHL denies Golden Knights' appeal to get draft-pick punishment
reduced, AP sources say
NHL denies Golden Knights' appeal to get draft-pick punishment reduced, AP
sources say
By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --- The Vegas Golden Knights' appeal to have their punishment
reduced for breaking media access rules was denied by the NHL and they will
lose a second-round pick in the draft this year, two people with knowledge of
the situation told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the league had not
announced the result of the team's appeal.
The league on Friday docked Vegas the second-rounder and fined coach John
Tortorella $100,000 for what it called flagrant violations of media
regulations. Tortorella refused to speak to reporters and the team did not open
its locker room following its second-round-series-clinching Game 6 victory at
Anaheim on Thursday night.
Announcing the sanctions, the NHL said the Golden Knights had been warned
previously about not following media and other policies. They were offered the
chance to appeal in person to Commissioner Gary Bettman this week, and that
ultimately was unsuccessful in getting the pick back or the fine reduced or
rescinded.
"We missed a great opportunity that night to connect with our fans and share
with them a victory in a playoff series," general manager Kelly McCrimmon said.
"I've always felt in a playoff series, when you win a series, you galvanize
with the bond with your fan base. We missed that opportunity by not having John
available to do postgame. That's on John for failing to do that. That's on me
as the general manager of the hockey club."
After confirming he was in New York earlier Wednesday to appeal, McCrimmon
absolved members of the team's communications staff for their role in the
situation.
"We have no explanation other than to say we were wrong and to assure you that
it will not happen again," McCrimmon said "The league has spoke on the matter.
We have spoke on the matter, and neither John nor I will be taking any
questions on this."
The loss of a second-round pick is the strictest punishment for breaking media
access rules in league history. Vegas opens the Western Conference Final on
Wednesday night at the Colorado Avalanche.
Asked Saturday about the punishment, Tortorella told reporters in Las Vegas,
"We put out a statement as an organization, and so we'll go back that. We have
no more comment on that." That statement said only that the team was aware of
the announcement and would have no further comment.
Tortorella took over as coach on an interim basis when Bruce Cassidy was fired
on March 29. The Golden Knights went 7-0-1 in their final eight regular-season
games, then beat the Utah Mammoth and the Ducks to make it to the West final
for a fourth time in their nine-year existence.
Now 67, Tortorella coached the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup in 2004.
He has been fined $262,000 for various transgressions over his time in the NHL.
___
This story has been corrected to show that it was Game 6, not Game 5, when
Tortorella refused to speak to reporters and the team did not open its locker
room.
___
AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
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