Report: Canucks' Benning to be fined for Stamkos, Subban comments

Marc Bergevin felt Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning "crossed the line" with his comments Thursday about defenseman P.K. Subban, and the NHL apparently agrees.

Benning will be fined for his comments about Subban and Tampa Bay Lightning captain Steven Stamkos - both under contract with other teams - TSN's Darren Dreger reports, though Benning's intent "wasn't malicious."

Benning violated a league by-law that strictly states team employees can't discuss players under contract with other franchises. The Canucks' GM may now speak to Stamkos, a pending unrestricted free agent, because the offseason's interview window opened Saturday.

The Canucks will be the first team charged with tampering since 2009, when the Toronto Maple Leafs were fined after expressing interest in the Sedin twins when they were under contract with the Canucks.