Kings Get Benning From St. Louis

It wasn’t one of the blockbuster moves that have been rumored since the Kings hit the skids a few weeks ago, but General Manager Rogie Vachon got defenseman Brian Benning from the St. Louis Blues Friday for a third-round draft pick in 1991.

Benning, who has played in only seven games this season, is what Vachon terms an “offensive-minded defenseman,” a “Steve Duchesne type.”

His acquisition, however, does not necessarily mean that Duchesne is about to be traded. Vachon said: “There’s nothing wrong with having two Steve Duchesnes on your team.”

Benning just did not fit well into St. Louis Coach Brian Sutter’s “grinding” team, Vachon added.

“He was not happy there, and I think he’ll add something to our team,” Vachon said. “We need mobile defenseman to play the style we play.

“Sometimes you’ve got to make some kind of move to try to change the chemistry of your team when you’re not going well.”

Benning, 23, was the Blues’ first choice in the 1986 entry draft. He is 6-feet-1, 195 pounds. In seven games this season, he has one goal and one assist.

He was scheduled to arrive in Los Angeles today but is not expected to play against Montreal.