Canucks Fined $50k for Violating Tampering Rule: Latest Details and Reaction

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly announced Tuesday the league fined the Vancouver Canucks $50,000 for comments made by team general manager Jim Benning about potential free agents, per ESPN.com.

"I spoke with Jim and accept his representation that he intended no harm with his comments and that he will handle similar questions from the media differently in the future," said Daly.  

Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal is disappointed with what the fine will mean for hockey writers:

In an interview with TSN 1040 in Vancouver last week (via Sportsnet's Luke Fox), Benning talked publicly about the Canucks' pursuits of stars P.K. Subban and Steven Stamkos.

In an interview on TSN 1040, TSN's Bob McKenzie reported the Montreal Canadiens are fielding offers for Subban. Benning called a possible trade for Subban "nowhere near close."

"It's a long way from completing a deal like that," he said. "There's lots of teams that have reached out to them to find out what it would take to try to complete a deal of that magnitude. It's a high price."

Regarding Stamkos, Benning added the team is "going to talk to him and see where it goes."

Teams are allowed to negotiate a deal with Stamkos, who's widely regarded as the best player available this offseason, before Friday, when he officially becomes an unrestricted free agent. The negotiating window officially opened last Saturday, however, with Benning's interview taking place on Thursday.

If Benning wants to talk openly about adding Subban to the Canucks, he'll have to wait another six years since the star defenseman is only two years into the eight-year extension he signed with the Canadiens in August 2014.