# Brian Benning

Brian Anthony Benning (born June 10, 1966) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played ten seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, Edmonton Oilers, and Florida Panthers. He is the younger brother of former Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning, and former NCAA player Mark Benning. He is the father of both San Jose Sharks defenceman Matt Benning and Florida Panthers defenceman Mike Benning.

## Playing career

Benning was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the second round, 26th overall in the 1984 NHL entry draft. He made his debut in the NHL during the 1984–85 NHL season with the Blues, playing in four games. Benning finally got the chance to have a full-time job in the NHL during the 1986–87 season. That year he played in 78 games with the Blues and scored a career-high 49 points. Benning then played two more full seasons with the Blues before being traded at the beginning of the 1989–90 season to the Los Angeles Kings. He played three seasons there before having brief stints with the Philadelphia Flyers and Edmonton Oilers.
Benning finished his career with the Florida Panthers. He was on the inaugural 1993–94 Panthers team that surprised many by nearly making the playoffs. He retired after the 1994–95 season.

## Career statistics
### Regular season and playoffs

| | | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1981–82 | St. Albert Saints | AJHL | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1982–83 | St. Albert Saints | AJHL | 57 | 8 | 38 | 46 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1983–84 | Portland Winter Hawks | WHL | 38 | 6 | 41 | 47 | 108 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1984–85 | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | 17 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1984–85 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1985–86 | Canadian National Team | Intl | 60 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1985–86 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 |
| 1986–87 | Canadian National Team | Intl | 20 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 22 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1986–87 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 78 | 13 | 36 | 49 | 110 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 9 |
| 1987–88 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 77 | 8 | 29 | 37 | 107 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 25 |
| 1988–89 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 66 | 8 | 26 | 34 | 102 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| 1989–90 | St. Louis Blues | NHL | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1989–90 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 48 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 104 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 1990–91 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 61 | 7 | 24 | 31 | 127 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| 1991–92 | Los Angeles Kings | NHL | 53 | 2 | 30 | 32 | 99 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1991–92 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 22 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL | 37 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 93 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1992–93 | Edmonton Oilers | NHL | 18 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1993–94 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 73 | 6 | 24 | 30 | 107 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1994–95 | Florida Panthers | NHL | 24 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
| NHL totals | NHL totals | NHL totals | 568 | 63 | 233 | 296 | 963 | 48 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 70 |

### International

| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| 1993 | Canada | WC | 4th | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | Senior totals | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 |

## Awards and honours

| Award | Year |
| NHL |||
| All-Rookie Team | 1987 |