NHL Hands Senators' Nick Cousins Maximum $4,091 Fine for Panthers Bench Incident

The NHL's Department of Player Safety has come down on Ottawa Senators forward Nick Cousins. The league announced Thursday that Cousins has been fined $4,091.49 — the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement — for unsportsmanlike conduct toward an opponent while sitting on Ottawa's bench during Wednesday night's game against the Florida Panthers. The incident occurred at 3:35 of the third period. Cousins was already penalized on the play, receiving a minor penalty for roughing plus a 10-minute misconduct. The fine money will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund. The announcement adds a sour note to an otherwise memorable night for Ottawa, which routed Florida 5-1 at home on Wednesday while fans jeered Panthers star Brady Tkachuk in his return. For Cousins, the penalty is the latest chapter in a checkered history with the league office — he was fined earlier this season for embellishment. With the maximum fine under the CBA, the message from Player Safety is clear, even if the wallet hit is modest by NHL standards: bench behavior toward opponents will cost you.