"I won't talk to the reporter!" Refused interview, fined $100,000 (about 160 million won) and stripped of 2026 first-round draft pick... 'Hot-tempered' NHL coach's impulsive act

*This content was translated by AI.

An unprecedented severe penalty was issued in the North American Ice Hockey League (NHL). A coach who failed to attend the post-game press conference was hit with a hefty fine, and the team was stripped of a draft pick.

U.S. sports outlet ESPN reported on the 20th (Korean time) that "the NHL Vegas Golden Knights appealed the penalty imposed by the NHL office, but the penalty was upheld."

Earlier, the Golden Knights defeated the Anaheim Ducks 5-1 in Game 6 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs Western Conference semifinals on the 15th, securing a 4-2 series victory and advancing to the Western Conference finals.

However, impulsive behavior by John Tortorella (68), the coach leading the Golden Knights, followed after the game. Coach Tortorella did not attend the scheduled official press conference and refused interviews with reporters. The player locker room, which should have been open to the media after the game, was also not made available.

The NHL then took action. The penalty was severe. The NHL office fined Coach Tortorella $100,000, equivalent to about 160 million won, and stripped the Golden Knights of their 2026 first-round draft pick. The NHL stated alongside the penalty that "the Golden Knights blatantly violated media regulations." The Golden Knights later appealed, arguing the penalty was too harsh, but the outcome remained unchanged.

The specific reason why Coach Tortorella refused the press conference was not made public. The Golden Knights explained that after the game, congestion inside the away stadium made it impossible to hold a media event while the team loaded their luggage onto the bus. However, other backgrounds were also mentioned locally. According to the New York Post, the Golden Knights were dissatisfied with the suspension penalty given to key defenseman Brayden McNabb, and this led to their refusal to engage with the media.

Earlier, McNabb received a one-game suspension for committing an "interference penalty" by interfering with an opposing player who did not have the puck in Game 5 of the semifinals. The Golden Knights were reportedly dissatisfied with this penalty.

Coach Tortorella's fiery temperament is also cited as a factor that fueled this controversy. He is known for having clashed with reporters on multiple previous occasions. Coach Tortorella, who also worked as an ESPN analyst, took over as the Golden Knights' head coach in March this year. However, not long after taking the job, he was hit with a hefty fine over media relations issues.

The Golden Knights also could not avoid the blow of losing a draft pick. Earlier, the Golden Knights had surrendered their 2026 first-round draft pick in the process of acquiring defenseman Noah Hanifin in 2024. With this latest penalty, they have now lost their second-round pick as well. If this stands, the team will not be able to select a player until the third round of the upcoming draft.

Kelly McCrimmon, general manager of the Golden Knights, bowed his head and said, "We missed a huge opportunity to connect with fans that night and share the victory of the playoff series. When you win a playoff series, the bond with fans grows stronger. But by not stepping up to the media after the game, Coach Tortorella missed that opportunity. This is Coach Tortorella's responsibility, and it is also my responsibility as the team's general manager."

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*This content was translated by AI.