What pick did the Golden Knights forfeit?

Golden Knights draft-pick forfeiture

The NHL’s punishment for the Vegas Golden Knights included a forfeiture of their 2026 second-round draft pick. The league imposed the sanction after determining that the team and head coach John Tortorella committed “flagrant violations” of NHL media policy.

The penalty was announced following Vegas’ Game 6 series-clinching performance versus the Anaheim Ducks, a result that propelled the Golden Knights to the Western Conference Final. While the on-ice achievement kept Vegas moving forward, the NHL treated the postgame media conduct as a serious rules breach.

Additional disciplinary action

Along with the pick forfeiture, the NHL also fined Tortorella $100,000.

Why the lost pick is significant

A second-round selection is often a key part of constructing a competitive prospect pipeline. Removing that pick limits the organization’s ability to add a young player through the draft, which can affect depth and long-term roster planning. The sanction also functions as a league-wide signal that media-policy compliance is enforced even deep into the playoffs.

For now, Vegas is still competing on the ice; however, the draft-pick loss means the organization’s offseason outlook includes a tangible cost tied to the media incident.