The Detroit Red Wings have been fined an undisclosed amount for comments made by senior vice president Jim Devellano regarding the lockout.

TSN reported the fine is in the range of $250,000.

In an interview earlier this week with Island Sports News, Devellano said that players should take 43 percent of the revenue, down from the 57 percent they currently receive.

"The owners can basically be viewed as the ranch, and the players, and me included, are the cattle," Devellano said in the interview. "The owners own the ranch and allow the players to eat there. That's the way it's always been and that the way it will be forever. And the owners simply aren't going to let a union push them around. It's not going to happen."

Owners and team officials previously have been warned that they would face fines if they talk about the lockout, which went into effect last week. Preseason games already have been canceled through Sept. 30.

The Hockey Hall of Famer also cautions NHL players going overseas to not get injured because the league has pulled medical benefits from the players and won't pay them "one dime" until they're cleared by league doctors.

"The Detroit Red Wings' organization and the League agree that the comments made by Mr. Devellano are neither appropriate, nor authorized, nor permissible under the League's By-Laws," NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. "Such comments are neither constructive nor helpful to the negotiations."



Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.