Vegas Golden Knights coach fined $100,000 after skipping media duties

The Vegas Golden Knights enter the Western Conference Final under a cloud that has nothing to do with injuries or suspensions. The NHL fined the club $100,000 and took away its second-round draft pick for failing to meet media obligations after Game 6 against the Anaheim Ducks.

Head coach John Tortorella refused to speak to reporters after the series-clinching win and also skipped the post-series handshake line. The league said it had issued multiple warnings to the team before imposing the penalties.

Vegas issued a brief statement saying it would not comment further. On Saturday, Tortorella followed that line and declined to address the matter when asked.

Tortorella did speak about the upcoming series against the Colorado Avalanche. It remains unclear exactly why he skipped his media duties, though Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported that the coach was upset over defenseman Brayden McNabb’s suspension from Game 5.

The team has not said whether it plans to appeal the league’s ruling. The issue is unlikely to fade before the conference final begins.