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NHL Notebook: Golden Knights forfeit 2026 second-round pick
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Photo credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
May 16, 2026, 20:00 EDTUpdated: May 16, 2026, 20:04 EDT
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The Vegas Golden Knights have lost another draft pick.
Their 10-season long tenure in the National Hockey League has been eventful, to say the least. They did a terrific job before the expansion draft to acquire picks, they made it to the Stanley Cup Final in their first year. In 2023, they won it all.
The Knights are known for the ruthless team approach, often trading away long-time players, as well as draft picks. They aren’t free of controversy either, exploiting the former long-term injury reserve loophole.
Well, they’re in the news once again for the wrong reasons. After defeating the Anaheim Ducks in Game 6 of the second round match-up, head coach John Tortorella refused to speak to the media and the locker room also wasn’t available for questions. This was despite making their fifth Conference Finals since their inception.
The repercussions for this was heavy, as the NHL took away the Golden Knights’ 2026 second-round pick, while Tortorella was fined $100,000. This penalty was due to what is the NHL described as “flagrant violations” of the Playoff Media Regulations. They had been previously warned as well, and the Golden Knights will have the opportunity to appeal.
It’s not the only reason the Golden Knights have been in the news, as they haven’t let their former head coach, Bruce Cassidy, speak to any other team in his search for a new job.
We’ll see what comes of this.

Quinn Hughes open to re-signing with Wild

Brett Kulak scored the overtime goal that sent the Colorado Avalanche to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2022. It also sent the Minnesota Wild home.
In his locker room clean-out interview, superstar defenceman Quinn Hughes was asked about re-signing with the Wild, responding by saying he likes the city and would be open to re-signing with the team.
Hughes is eligible to re-sign when free agency begins on July 1. The 2026-27 season will be the final year on his existing contract, where he earns an annual cap hit of $7.85 million. In December, the Wild sent Liam Öhgren, Marco Rossi, Zeev Buium, and their 2026 first-rounder to the Canucks for Hughes’ services.
Post-trade, the left-shot defenceman scored seven goals and 53 points in 48 games, giving him seven goals and 76 points in 74 games. That fell short of his career-best 178 goals and 92 points that he got in 2023-24 with the Pacific Division-winning Canucks. In three of the past four seasons, Hughes has finished with exactly 76 points.
In the Wild’s 11 playoff games, Hughes scored four goals and 15 points, tied with Kirill Karprizov for the team-lead in points. His four goals were tied for second most, alongside Kaprizov, Brock Faber, and Marcus Johansson.

Everett Silvertips and Kitchener Rangers punch ticket to Memorial Cup

Three of the four teams that’ll make up the 2026 Memorial Cup have been decided.
Joining the hosting Kelowna Rockets are the Western Hockey League’s Everett Silvertips and the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers. The Silvertips easily dispelled the Prince Albert Raiders, beating them in five games for their first Ed Chynoweth Cup in team history.
The Silvertips were led by the projected first overall pick in the 2027 draft, defenceman Landon DuPont. Over 18 games, the 16-year-old (who happens to be Eric Jamieson’s former defence partner) scored five goals and 23 points, the latter being the third most in team scoring.
This was the second consecutive season that the Silvertips finished with the most points in the Western Hockey League. They’ve also made it to the WHL Finals on two separate occasions, falling to the Medicine Hat Tigers in the 2003 finals and the Swift Current Broncos in the 2018 finals.
The Ontario Hockey League’s representative will be the Kitchener Rangers after sweeping the Barrie Colts in the OHL finals. However, the sweep doesn’t reflect the scores of the series, as the Rangers won two one-goal games, a two-goal game, and a three-goal game that featured an empty netter.
Unlike the Silvertips, the Rangers have had far more success in their league. This was the fifth time they’ve won the J. Ross Robertson Cup, the first time since 2008. They’ve participated in seven Memorial Cups since 1975, with four of those times coming since the format was expanded to four teams in 1983. The Rangers have won it all twice, once in 1982, and again in 2008, the most recent time they had been to the Memorial Cup.
There’s still one more spot up for grabs, as the Québec Maritimes Junior Hockey League’s representative will either be the Moncton Wildcats or Chicoutimi Saguenées. Right now, the Saguenées have a 3-2 series lead, with a chance to claim the Gilles-Courteau Trophy on home ice on Sunday.
If needed, Game 7 would be on Tuesday as the Wildcats look to win back-to-back titles and head to the Memorial Cup once again.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for FlamesNation, Oilersnation, and Blue Jays Nation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.
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