Deadmarsh, Miller Put Past Behind

Adam Deadmarsh of the Kings was at home in Trail, Canada, on June 9 when the Colorado Avalanche, his former team, wrapped up the Stanley Cup championship with a Game 7 victory over the New Jersey Devils.

“I watched part of the game,” he said, “but I turned it off about halfway through and went outside to work in the yard.”

Aaron Miller, home in Colchester, Vt., watched it to the end.

Deadmarsh was envious.

Miller was indifferent.

Traded to the Kings in the February deal that sent Rob Blake to the Avalanche, Deadmarsh and Miller couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret as their former team, which had eliminated the Kings earlier in the playoffs, hoisted the Cup.

“A lot of emotions go through your head,” said Deadmarsh, who played 51/2 seasons in Colorado, helping the Avalanche win its first Cup in 1996. “I’ve won before and it’s such a special feeling that I was jealous not to be a part of it again.”

Miller played 41/2 seasons in Colorado, missing out on both title runs.

What went through his mind as the Avalanche celebrated last spring?

“Absolutely nothing,” he said. “The day I was traded, that was the end of that. All you can do is go out and work as hard as you can. Whatever else happens happens. I try not to think about it too much.

“I did work a long time to win a Cup, but I had a chance to win one here too. It’s not like I got traded to a bottom-dweller. We had a shot.”

Deadmarsh and Miller, of course, now hope to win a Stanley Cup with the Kings, who play the Avalanche in their exhibition finale tonight at Denver.

“It’s just the greatest feeling in the world, and it’s so hard to do,” Deadmarsh says. “You have to be in the right place at the right time.”

Veteran defenseman Mattias Norstrom is the Kings’ new captain, Coach Andy Murray announced Sunday night during a team dinner at club owner Philip Anschutz’s ranch outside Denver. The alternates, on a rotating basis, will be Mathieu Schneider, Bryan Smolinski, Kelly Buchberger and Ian Laperriere.