KINGS NOTEBOOK: DEADMARSH SET TO CALL IT QUITS.

Byline: Rich Hammond Staff Writer

Former Kings winger Adam Deadmarsh, whose career was halted in the 2002-03 season by post-concussion syndrome, will retire according to a story published in today's Denver Post.

``I've been living on hope the last three years I'd be able to play again, but my body is just telling me it's not going to happen,'' Deadmarsh told the paper via phone from his home in British Columbia.

Retiring players must file papers with the league to make it official, which Deadmarsh has yet to do, but by all accounts his career is over after 10 seasons, the last 3 1/2 with the Kings. Deadmarsh, acquired from Colorado in February 2001, totaled 184 goals and 189 points in 567 career games.

``I played almost 600 games and wanted to play another 600 more,'' Deadmarsh said. ``When I think of all the memories I could have had if I kept playing, it's a little tough. But I'm thankful for all the time I did have and all the memories.''

Deadmarsh, 30, who suffered a concussion in 2000 with the Avalanche, sustained another in November 2002 and then another onDec. 15, 2002, when he was kneed in the head by a teammate during a game.

Deadmarsh made several attempts to come back during the 2003-04 season but each time suffered setbacks and never played another game. Deadmarsh told the paper that his symptoms have diminished but are still brought on by physical activity.

``A guy who loves to play the game as much as he did, it has to be so tough on him,'' Kings coach Andy Murray said Wednesday night. ``We talk about him a lot with our team and how much we miss him. ... He played a hard game and it caught up to him.''

Deadmarsh is best remembered in Los Angeles for the overtime goal he scored in the Kings' series-clinching victory over Detroit in the 2001 playoffs.

``I talked to him a while ago, when his intention was still to come back, but I think that's changed,'' Kings defenseman Aaron Miller, a close friend of Deadmarsh, said last week. ``I know his wife has been really concerned.

--Injury report: Derek Armstrong, who suffered a concussion in Sunday's game, rode an exercise bicycle Wednesday and reported no problems. Murray said the team's medical staff will attempt to determine today when Armstrong might return to the ice.

--Say goodbye: There were no surprises among Wednesday's 17 roster cuts, which took the Kings down to 31 players exactly two weeks before the start of the season. As expected, 18-year-old Anze Kopitar, the Kings' first-round draft pick, returned to play in Sweden.

Rich Hammond, [phone] rich.hammond(at)dailynews.com