Stars forward Jamie Benn has been fined $10,000 for his cross-check on Ryan Jones in Thursday’s game between Dallas and Edmonton.

In addition to the fine, which is the maximum allowed under the new collective bargaining agreement, Benn was assessed a five minute major and a game misconduct by the referees at the time of the incident.

Undoubtedly factoring into the league’s decision is Benn’s relatively clean record (this is the first time he’s received supplemental discipline from the NHL), and the fact that Jones felt well enough to play later in the game and again on Friday. Working against Benn was the fact that the cross-check was so obviously not a hockey play.

In a perfect world, I’d like to see a brief suspension for hits like this. I do think, however, that a fine is consistent with the NHL’s enforcement standards, and all that could really be expected to come from this. Benn’s salary this year is $4.5 million (before getting reduced due to the lockout); a $10,000 fine represents the same percentage of his annual income that $100 does for a man making $45,000 a year – it’s the NHL equivalent of a speeding ticket.