By Chris Foster, Times Staff Writer

Defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky is still looking for an answer.

He was brought in to give the Carolina Hurricanes some offense from the blue line last season, for which he was given a three-year, $7.5-million contract.

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Yet when the Stanley Cup playoffs began, Tverdovsky became a high-priced spectator. The Hurricanes won the Cup, but Tverdovsky played in only five postseason games.

"I really don't know what happened," said Tverdovsky, who was acquired by the Kings with the rights to defenseman Jack Johnson for defenseman Tim Gleason and center Eric Belanger. "Nobody ever explained it to me. I didn't fit in, that's the way it is. I'm still searching for an answer myself."

It'll take a long-distance call at this point. Tverdovsky, 30, was sent coast to coast and will try to get up to speed with the Kings.

His skills would seem to lend themselves to the aggressive style first-year Coach Marc Crawford preaches, in which defensemen are expected to join the offensive push.

He is a nimble skater who has scored more than 50 points three times in his NHL career, though it has been six years since he hit the half-century mark. He played two seasons in Russia during that time.

Tverdovsky returned from Russia for the 2005-06 season, finding an NHL that was determined to have an obstruction-free game. "This really is my game now," he said. "I just want to get into the system and go with it."

Tverdovsky had three goals and 23 points in 72 games, but his minutes were reduced down the stretch. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup for a second time — he won it with New Jersey in 2003-04 — but he knew that his days in Carolina were dwindling.

"I was expecting to be moved," Tverdovsky said.

Although Johnson, a blue-chip prospect, was the prize in the deal from the Kings' standpoint, Tverdovsky is expected to find a spot on defense.

"Oleg helps fill the hole that we have now that Tim is gone," General Manager Dean Lombardi said. "It does give us a proven NHL player."

Which is all the answer Tverdovsky needs right now.

"I'm very happy to be here," he said. "It's a new start for me."