The NHL fined the Vancouver Canucks $50,000 on Tuesday for general manager Jim Benning's recent comments expressing interest on players currently under contract with other teams.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement that Benning violated "NHL By-Law 15 relating to inappropriate public comments by speaking generally to his club's potential interest in players under contract to other NHL clubs.
"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."
Benning, in an appearance with TSN Radio Vancouver last Thursday, said he was interested in adding both pending free agent Steven Stamkos and the Montreal Canadiens' P.