Category: Ice Hockey

The Vancouver Canucks cannot afford to lose their identity again.

For years, the organization has cycled through players, coaches, systems, and philosophies, trying to figure out what kind of team it actually wants to be. But over the final stretch of this season, Vancouver finally started showing signs of becoming something different — harder-working, more connected, more physical, and far more difficult to play against.

Honestly, the Canucks should look back at those earlier Travis Green-era teams. While they still lost games, they competed every night. The group worked hard, was difficult to play against, and gave fans something to cheer about as young players like Bo Horvat, Elias Pettersson, Quinn Hughes, and Brock Boeser were developing in front of their very eyes. 

That needs to become the standard again. The real challenge for Vancouver is not simply finding talent; it is building an identity strong enough that future players naturally fall into it. That is why the organization should consider re-signing these five unrestricted free agents ahead of the 2026–27 season.

Teddy Blueger

This should be the easiest decision on the list.

Blueger missed a large portion of the season with an injury, but when he came back, he immediately showed what type of leader he truly is. Even while hurt, he still brought accountability, professionalism, and leadership to the group.

Blueger comes from the Pittsburgh Penguins' model. He has seen how Sidney Crosby trains, how Stanley Cup teams operate, and what championship habits actually look like behind the scenes. He also won a Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in a depth role, which matters because he understands exactly what contending teams need from bottom-six players.

That’s where Blueger’s value goes beyond the scoresheet.

The Canucks also made a statement at the trade deadline by refusing to move him unless they got proper value. That matters because it tells the league Vancouver values leadership players properly and will not simply give them away for nothing.

Curtis Douglas

Plain and simple, re-sign Douglas.

The forward has already helped create a new locker-room culture and identity in a very short amount of time. From celebrating goals and defending teammates to partaking in locker-room traditions where players have to high-five him despite him being the tallest guy in the room, Douglas has become a major personality within the group.

Those things matter more than people realize, especially if the Canucks want to maintain the identity they claimed they started building over the final five weeks of the season.

At 6’9”, Douglas gives Vancouver functional toughness. Adam Foote even described him as someone who can “drag our guys into the pile.”

There is also still untapped potential in his game. If Douglas continues developing, imagine trying to move a 6’9” forward planted at the top of the crease, creating screens and chaos around the net. That type of presence is difficult to defend. While the NHL has moved away from traditional enforcers, players like Douglas still matter because they provide functional toughness. 

Derek Forbort

Forbort has had unbelievably bad injury luck recently, but the Canucks should still consider bringing him back in a mentorship role.

He still brings value because he understands how to defend properly, kill penalties, block shots, support younger defencemen, and stand up for teammates.

Forbort also understands how to jump into the play and pick his spots offensively. You can already picture younger defencemen like Tom Willander and Zeev Buium learning when to activate offensively and when to stay back simply by watching a veteran like Forbort manage the game.

Especially with Vancouver losing a veteran presence like Tyler Myers, there is now an even bigger need for mentorship and stability on the back end, and Forbort fits that role perfectly.

Guillaume Brisebois

Brisebois is the definition of loyalty.

And honestly, players like this are usually forgotten until injuries hit.

The Canucks drafted him 66th overall in 2015 as part of the Eddie Läck trade, and he has spent his entire professional career with the organization ever since. Alongside Brock Boeser and Thatcher Demko, he is one of the organization's longest-serving players.

Despite never being guaranteed a full-time NHL role, Brisebois has continued signing contracts to stay in Vancouver and help wherever needed.

Every successful organization has players like Brisebois. He understands the system, stays ready, and can step into difficult situations without needing everything re-explained.

Joseph LaBate

LaBate’s journey coming full-circle with the Canucks, makes him an easy player to respect.

Originally drafted by Vancouver in 2011, he left the organization for years before returning to help provide depth and leadership. That willingness to come back says a lot about his professionalism and character.

LaBate still brings value because he can help stabilize the Abbotsford Canucks, mentor younger players, play physical hockey, finish checks, and step into NHL games when injuries happen.

The Canucks have spent years cycling through depth players who never truly fit the team's identity. Re-signing players like LaBate is less about finding stars and more about building low-cost culture pieces that understand the organization and embrace their role.

Vancouver does not need to become a contender overnight. But they do need to become a team opponents hate playing against again.

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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Toronto Maple LeafsGM John Chayka has a massive decision to make this off-season. Now that Craig Berube has been relieved of his duties as the Maple Leafs head coach, the vacant role must be filled with careful consideration.

With Chayka's history with the Arizona Coyotes, he has only ever hired one coach in his NHL career as a GM, and on the other hand, has only fired one head coach too.

Chayka was officially named the GM of the Coyotes franchise beginning in 2016-17. When he stepped in, the coach of Arizona at the time was Dave Tippett.

Tippettt was entering his eighth season as the bench boss of the Coyotes, but after finishing that campaign with a 30-42-10 record, Chayka fired Tippett and got the opportunity to bring in his own head coach.

Chayka went on to hire Rick Tocchett, and he went on to be an excellent coach later in his career, but for his tenure with the Coyotes, it was his first NHL head-coaching stint since 2009-10 with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Report: Cassidy 'Extremely Unlikely' To Be Maple Leafs' Next Head Coach, Fresh Face in PlayThe Toronto Maple Leafs will be searching for a new head coach this off-season. However, Elliotte Friedman believes that Bruce Cassidy won't be the bench boss that the Maple Leafs ultimately decide on. Instead, they may look for a fresh face to be Toronto's 42nd coach.

Tocchett coached the Coyotes for four full seasons, with the final two being shortened due to COVID-19. In his first three years there, the team's record improved steadily. Eventually, Arizona was able to make it through the qualifying round in 2019-20 and got a sniff of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

They were eliminated in the first round of the post-season by the Colorado Avalanche in five games. His next season with the Coyotes would be his last, but Chayka was no longer a part of the franchise by that point.

Maple Leafs' John Chayka Keeps Cards Close To The Vest, Offers Vague Corporate Speak In Rationale For Craig Berube DismissalIt's not that there wasn't a good reason to dismiss Craig Berube as coach of the Leafs. It's that Chayka offered little reason for doing it.

At any rate, Tocchet would go on to join the Vancouver Canucks in 2022-23 and went on to win the Jack Adams Trophy in 2023-24. So while he didn't make a massive impact for the Coyotes, as a coach in general, Tocchet was a good hire.

As for the dismissal of Tippett, he went on to coach the Edmonton Oilers for parts of three years beginning in 2019-20. He led his team to two playoff campaigns, but managed to earn just one victory in both post-seasons combined.

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With the Toronto Maple Leafs missing the playoffs, many television networks are covering the Montreal Canadiens and realizing that Martin St-Louis’ team plays a highly entertaining brand of hockey and is having a lot of fun doing it. There’s more to the Habs’ “power of friendship” celebration than a gimmicky name; they really are a group of friends living the dream of playing, or working in, hockey for a living.

On Sportsnet’s Thursday night broadcast, former NHLer turned commentator Kevin Bieksa commented on the young Habs and the atmosphere around the team. He started by explaining that he has a knack for detecting false narratives, then added that what the Canadiens have going is anything but that. Having been in his share of hockey dressing rooms, Bieksa added that there is no bad blood, no cancer in the room, no issues and that the Canadiens are just a great tight knit group of guys enjoying each other and the game.

They have to be for things to run as smoothly as they have this season, and it’s not just on the ice, either; it includes the front office and the coaching staff. President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton and General Manager Kent Hughes not only work together, but they also ride to work together. When goalie coach Eric Raymond was dismissed, St-Louis looked genuinely shaken and told the media he felt as if he had just lost one of his best friends.

As for the players, you only had to look at their reaction when one of their teammates scored to know how they feel about one another. Whether it’s the star sniper of the team or the rookie that was looking to pop his playoff cherry, on Thursday, we saw Cole Caufield jump for joy, as if he were a volleyball player about to deliver a smash, when a teammate scored. When Ivan Demidov finally scored his first playoff goal, Phillip Danault gave him a heartfelt hug, just like coach St-Louis. When Brendan Gallagher came in for Game 5 against the Tampa Bay Lightning and scored the first goal, the bench erupted in celebration.

All love for Ivan Demidov on the #Habs bench by Martin St-Louis & Philip Danault after his 1st #NHL playoff goal #familypic.twitter.com/Kx4sHjLOfh

— Priyanta Emrith (@HabsInHighHeels) May 15, 2026

And it’s not only through the good times. Patrik Laine hasn’t played since October, and we’ve not heard a peep out of him. Samuel Montembeault has been cast aside this season after failing to find his game, and he didn’t moan or pout; no, he pranked Jakub Dobes after his Game 7 win over the Bolts. Gallagher was on track to play 1,000 games with the Canadiens before the end of his contract, but he took being a healthy scratch like a pro, saying he would always be ready when called upon. Arber Xhekaj was a healthy scratch for Game 7 of the first-round series against Tampa, and when the players came back to the room after the win, he was there to greet them with the widest smile on his face.

😂 pic.twitter.com/ylAURZ0Ybw

— x - Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 15, 2026

Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Kirby Dach may be the only ones to do the power of friendship celebration, but the whole team is living it.

Dobes, Fowler and Monty !!!!! #hockey #jakubdobes #nhl #montrealcanadiens #shorts #youtubeshortsEnjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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Ten years ago today, Sidney Crosby scored an overtime game winning goal in the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Pittsburgh had dropped the opening game of the Eastern Conference Final to Tampa and Game 2 was going to overtime with the Penguins at risk of falling behind 2-0 in the series.

A chaotic opening 20 minutes of Game 2 saw the Penguins jump out 2-0 with goals from Matt Cullen and Phil Kessel.

Anton Stralman and Jonathan Drouin leveled the game at 2-2 with goals in the final few minutes of the period.

A scoreless second period and a scoreless third period were sending things to overtime.

One shot and the Penguins could be down 2-0 with their chances of surviving the series dramatically diminishing.

Then 40 seconds into overtime, Sidney Crosby happened on a beautiful setup from Bryan Rust.

The playoff overtime goal for Crosby was the first of his illustrious career.

Crosby’s goal evened the series for the Penguins, who won Game 3 to take a 2-1 series lead.

Pittsburgh would drop the next two games before rallying to win the series in seven.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Defenseman Jonas Brodin and center Joel Eriksson Ek were unable to play for Minnesota in the second-round series against Colorado in the NHL playoffs because of broken bones in their feet, the veteran stalwarts revealed Friday in season-ending interviews with reporters.

Brodin suffered a fracture in the big toe in his right foot when he blocked a shot in Game 5 of the Wild's first-round series against Dallas, requiring surgery and forcing him to miss the clinching win over the Stars and all five games against the Avalanche.

The Wild were eliminated on Wednesday in a 4-3 overtime loss in Denver, with both Brodin and Eriksson Ek relegated to watching the game on TV. Their defensive acumen, physical presence and playoff experience were all missed against the high-scoring Avalanche, who had the best regular season record in the league.

Brodin, who finished his 14th season in the NHL, all with the Wild, was aiming to return at the end of the conference finals if they were to advance.

“It’s awful to not play in the playoffs," Brodin said. "Best time of the year.”

Eriksson Ek, who finished his 10th season in the NHL, all with the Wild, broke the heel bone in his right foot in Game 6 against Dallas. He took part in practice in a limited basis before Game 3 against Colorado last week, but he said he was unable to fully push off the foot on the ice.

“You want to play,” Eriksson Ek said. “I just couldn't do it. Too painful to skate.”

Brodin also had to miss the Olympics this year when surgery on an earlier lower body injury kept him from playing for Sweden.

“It’s a frustrating year. We’ve got to stay positive and come back stronger next year,” Brodin said.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/stanley-cup and https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Philadelphia Flyers are expecting to have everyone fully healthy by the time training camp rolls around in a few months... with the exception of one forgotten prospect.

During his end-of-season press conference, Flyers general manager Danny Briere revealed that Nikita Grebenkin is the only player he believes could miss time into the summer and/or training camp.

"There's one, maybe Grebenkin, depending on how it goes," Briere said.

"Initially, we thought it was going to be something short, and it just never got better. Now we're looking at different options for him, so he's the only one that I would say maybe, if it doesn't improve."

Grebenkin, 23, was originally given a seven-to-10-day timeline for his undisclosed upper-body injury, which was announced back on March 26.

Injured Flyers Duo Never Came Close to Return for NHL PlayoffsThe Philadelphia Flyers would have needed to make an impossible run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs to get two of their injured forwards back.

The eclectic Russian forward was supposed to be re-evaluated afterwards, and it's clear that any and all ensuing evaluations did not put him in a position to return to the Flyers by the end of the season.

For the remainder of the season, including the playoffs, Grebenkin never resumed skating, though it is worth noting that he was not observed to be sporting any kinds of casts or slings while in the press box during the postseason.

In the injury update the Flyers released shortly before Briere's press conference, Grebenkin's injury was described only as an "upper-body injury," whereas Christian Dvorak, for example, was specified to have played through a broken rib and separated shoulder.

Owen Tippett, of course, had released a joint statement with the team relaying his battle with a sports hernia and an unrelated bout with internal bleeding, so it would be hard to imagine this is simply an oversight by the team rather than something deliberate to protect the player.

Nikita Grebenkin Injury Update: Flyers Prospect Not Returning Anytime SoonAs the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers">Philadelphia Flyers</a> inch closer to their first playoff berth since 2020, injured forward Nikita Grebenkin isn't going to be providing them with a boost anytime soon.

Grebenkin is a pending restricted free agent and will be due for a new contract this summer.

For most of the past three years, the Senators and their fans have been bracing themselves for the loss of an upcoming first-round draft pick. And for much of this season, it looked like this was going to be the year.

After former management failed to disclose that Evgenii Dadonov had a 10-team no-trade list when trading him to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021, the league came down hard on the Senators, docking them a first-round draft pick. It was something they would have to forfeit in either 2024, 2025 or 2026.

Many Senators fans were steamed with the Golden Knights for lobbying the league as hard as they did to penalize Ottawa for what had happened. After all, the punishment didn’t help the Knights at all, and it's not like they lost the asset. They successfully traded Dadonov to Montreal a few months later.

Now, a little over a month away from the NHL Draft, in a stunning turn of events, it’s suddenly Vegas that will lose a 2026 draft pick, not the Senators.

Two months ago, after considerable lobbying of the league by the Senators, the NHL agreed to take their forfeited draft pick off the table. They amended the penalty, giving the club back a first-round pick, although it will be 32nd overall, while insisting on a $1 million fine.

Meanwhile, it’s Vegas that will suddenly have to give up a pick this summer.

The league punished the Knights on Friday for their behaviour following the clinching game against the Ducks on Thursday night. Head coach John Tortorella, who needs to be the centre of controversy as badly as he needs oxygen, declined to speak with the media after the game and the Ducks did not open the dressing room to reporters.

As a result, the NHL announced Friday that, because of “flagrant violations” of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs media regulations, the Knights will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, while Tortorella was fined $100,000.

Apparently, for the Knights, this was not a first-time offence. The league’s press release went on to say that the penalties came after previous warnings had been issued to Vegas regarding compliance with media regulations and other associated policies. The Knights will have the chance to appeal at the commissioner’s office in New York next week.

They did make two players, Brett Howden and Mitch Marner available to the media. Before taking questions, though, Marner  warned reporters he would have to wrap things up within 10 minutes for fear that Tortorella would order the team bus to leave without them.

And it was truly hard to say if he was kidding or not.

It’s possible this was a protest or statement, similar to what the Barrie Colts did the night they advanced to the OHL Final. In that case, after the Colts were told they couldn't have the whole team in on the media availability, head coach Dylan Smoskowitz and captain Kashawn Aitcheson answered every media question by saying, “Nobody cares. Work harder.”

According to Elliotte Friedman, the Knights post game behaviour was also a protest.

“I guarantee you that thing last night was in reaction to the McNabb suspension,” Friedman said on Friday, guesting on The FAN Hockey Show. “They were really upset about it.”

Vegas defenseman Brayden McNabb was suspended for one game for his late hit that injured Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Poehling during Game 5 of the series.

A second-round pick and $100,000 fine is a pretty damn expensive protest, especially when you consider that McNabb’s one-game suspension (for Game 6) was now over.

Whether it was a protest or not, how could a Senators fan do anything but chuckle at all of this?

I mean, imagine that. It's Vegas that will lose a pick in next month’s draft and not Ottawa. For Sens fans, the irony is delicious.

By Steve Warne
The Hockey News

This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:  

Our One-On-One With Senators Winger Drake Batherson
Senators Defenseman Goes From 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs To Signing In Switzerland
Rasmus Ristolainen: A Deeper Look Into A Potential Senators Trade Target
What’s The Plan For Senators UFA Lars Eller?
Archive: The Year Erik Karlsson Became Ottawa's First Norris Trophy Winner At 22

The Chicago Blackhawks have seven players participating in the IIHF World Championships. All of them were in action on Friday in Switzerland, the first day of the tournament. 

Two Blackhawks are on Team Sweden, which was defeated by Canada 5-3. Anton Frondell was a healthy scratch and Arvid Soderblom was the backup goaltender, so neither impacted the game. 

There was a reason to keep an eye from a Blackhawks perspective, however, as Ivar Stenberg suited up for Sweden. He will be a top-five pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, where the Blackhawks currently hold the fourth overall selection. 

Stenberg scored a goal early in the contest, but it was waved off for a high stick. He didn’t have any points that counted, but you can tell from watching him that the hockey IQ is there for him to be an impact player once he reaches the NHL. 

Teuvo Teravainen suited up for Finland, and he recorded two assists in their win over Germany. For someone who struggled to put up points at the end of the NHL regular season, this was a good showing. Both Sweden and Finland are poised for deep runs in the tournament once the elimination rounds begin. 

Four Blackhawks are on Team USA’s roster. One of them, Drew Commesso, was the third goalie who didn’t dress for their opening game. The other three, Wyatt Kaiser, Oliver Moore, and Sam Lafferty all suited up as skaters. 

None of them recorded a point, and Team USA lost to host Switzerland. After the Swiss took a 2-0 lead, the Americans started to play better and push the pace, but they were unable to get it tied before a third goal was scored to make it 3-1, which held as the final. 

There was a fourth game that involved no Blackhawks, which was won 4-1 by Czechia over Denmark. It was a good slate of hockey, but there is a long way to go before anyone creates any separation. There is also the possibility of more players joining as they get eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

The next chance to watch a Blackhawks player will come on Saturday when Teravainen and Finland suit up against Hungary. On Sunday, Team USA will battle Great Britain, and Sweden will play Denmark. 

Visit The Hockey News Chicago Blackhawks team site to stay up to date on the latest news, game-day coverage, player features, and more.

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Life as a Toronto Maple Leafs fan could have taken the darkest of turns if the franchise hadn’t been gifted the first-overall pick in this year’s draft.

However, the real kick in the crotch for Buds backers has to be the play of Mitch Marner in the playoffs.

Luckily, there's a way to remedy this when it comes to the latest NHL odds...

Son of a Mitch

After advancing to the Western Conference Final on Thursday, Mitch Marner leads all NHL playoff skaters in points with seven goals in 12 games.

Oh 😳 pic.twitter.com/c8vHpK8YbK

— BarDown (@BarDown) May 9, 2026

By comparison, Leafs Nation watched the winger go 31-39 SU in the postseason during his tenure with Toronto, winning just two of 11 playoff series and averaging 0.81 points per game.

For Leafs fans like myself, there is a way to fix this, and it’s not just a hedge on happiness. Marner is currently listed at +1000 in the latest Conn Smythe odds, while the Vegas Golden Knights sit around +575 in Stanley Cup odds. 

If Vegas knocks off the Colorado Avalanche and Marner keeps contributing, that Conn Smythe line could shrink to +300 by the Final, especially if Vegas enters it as an underdog. 

Mitch Marner went between the legs for his 17th point in 12 playoff games

Starting to think the Maple Leafs could use a guy like this 🤔pic.twitter.com/FZgghzcCgh

— Covers (@Covers) May 15, 2026

There are only two true potential Conn Smythe winners in the West: Nathan MacKinnon or Marner, and the latter has a five-point cushion over the Avalanche forward.

Born Sinners

Everyone thinks the Avalanche are going to roll over the team from Sin City, but this series could be tighter than expected.

When healthy, the Minnesota Wild are arguably a better team than Colorado.

Against the Avs, Joel Eriksson Ek being injured was a massive gut-punch for a team already thin at center, and defenseman Jonas Brodin missing time hurt as well. The top-heavy Wild piled huge minutes onto their stars and faded late.

Vegas’ goaltending may be better, considering Colorado has already made two changes in net this postseason, and the potential shoulder issue for Cale Makar is significant.

The Mitch is Back

Marner is looking electric alongside a red-hot Brett Howden (eight goals in his last nine games) and William Karlsson, who knows his way around playoff hockey.

The Avs are favorites for a reason, but if Mark Stone returns to the lineup, this could become a six- or seven-game war.

Since John Tortorella took over as head coach, Vegas is 14-4-1 including the playoffs, boasting a +31 goal differential. If Marner’s success is tough to watch, go grab him at 12/1 for Conn Smythe. 

It’s the balance of the hockey world: Leafs fans get the first-overall pick, but Marner wins the Cup and playoff MVP.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here and view our best betting sites or check out our top sportsbook promos.

John Tortorella apparently didn’t want anything to do with the media Thursday night.

On Friday, the NHL came down on the Golden Knights and their head coach — hard.

The league took away the team’s 2026 second-round pick and fined Tortorella $100,000 after he skipped a postgame press conference in the aftermath of securing a Western Conference final berth with a Game 6 win over the Ducks on Thursday.

On top of skipping the presser, the team also kept the locker room closed to media members following the victory.

The NHL said in its statement that it had given Vegas “previous warnings” about violations of the media policy.

“National Hockey League announced today that, as a result of flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations following Game 6 of their Second Round series against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, May 14, the Vegas Golden Knights will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 Upper Deck NHL Draft,” the league said in its decision.

Vegas can appeal the decision, which would come in the form of an in-person hearing in New York next week.

The Golden Knights said they were aware of the decision but would provide no further comment on the situation.

According to The Athletic, Vegas staffers said Thursday night that traffic in the Honda Center hallway as the team loaded up bags onto the team bus was the reason the locker room was closed off.

Three players did talk to the media — Mitch Marner and Brett Howden at a conference and Shea Theodore in a separate room.

Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the team was frustrated over a one-game suspension that Brayden McNabb received for an interference penalty, which was the impetus for the almost-total media embargo.

Tortorella, who has had more than a few contentious exchanges with reporters over the years, was hired as the Vegas head coach less than two months ago in the wake of Bruce Cassidy’s firing.

The penalties come at a time when the Golden Knights are gearing up for a Western Conference Finals trip to face the Avalanche.

Game 1 of that series starts on Wednesday.

The NHL came down hard on the Vegas Golden Knights for violating media policies after the team advanced to the Western Conference final.

Head coach John Tortorella didn't meet with the media after the series-clinching 5-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday, May 14, and the dressing room wasn't opened to the media either, according to reporters.

The NHL said Friday it was taking a 2026 second-round pick away from the Golden Knights and was fining Tortorella $100,000. The league said the team had been warned before and that Vegas would be able to appeal the penalties. A hearing, if requested, would be held next week in New York.

The team said in a social media statement: "The Golden Knights are aware of today's announcement from the NHL regarding the postgame media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim. The organization will have no further comment."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vegas Golden Knights lose draft pick for violating NHL media policy

The Vegas Golden Knights caused quite a stir on Thursday night following their victory over the Anaheim Ducks. Despite this victory advancing the Golden Knights to the Western Conference Finals for the fourth time in team history, head coach John Tortorella declined to speak with the media following his team’s 5-1 win.

The reaction from the National Hockey League was swift and left no room for interpretation. The league found this unprecedented behavior unacceptable, and its retribution sets the standard that it will not tolerate this sort of thing in the future.

As a result of “flagrant violations of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Media Regulations,” the NHL brought the hammer down on the Golden Knights. The team will forfeit a second-round pick in the 2026 draft– a harsh punishment for a team in possession of very little draft capital.

Head coach John Tortorella has also been fined $100,000.

The NHL made it very clear in its issued statement that the Golden Knights have been warned about similar issues in the past.

“The imposition of these penalties comes after previous warnings were issued to the Club regarding their compliance with the Media Relations and other associated policies.”

The Golden Knights have the opportunity to appeal this decision to the Commissioner’s Office. If they choose to do so, that appeal will be held in person next week in New York.

NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL docked 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 after their series-clinching Game 6 victory at Anaheim on Thursday night.

Tortorella refused to speak to reporters after Vegas routed the Ducks 5-1 to move on to face Colorado in the Western Conference final. The Golden Knights also did not open their locker room in accordance with league and Players' Association-negotiated regulations.

The NHL in a statement announcing the punishment said the penalties for these “flagrant violations” come after previous warnings were issued to the Golden Knights. The team has been offered the opportunity to appeal to Commissioner Gary Bettman’s office in person at the league’s New York headquarters next week.

“The Golden Knights are aware of today's announcement from the NHL regarding the postgame media availability following Game 6 in Anaheim,” the team said in a statement posted to social media. “The organization will have no further comment.”

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL