KINGS UPDATE: DEADMARSH, MILLER IN OLYMPICS.

Byline: Matt McHale Staff Writer

MONTREAL - The Kings received another windfall from February's Rob Blake trade Saturday when Adam Deadmarsh and Aaron Miller were named to the U.S. Olympic hockey team.

Deadmarsh, a left winger, and Miller, a defenseman, were acquired from the Colorado Avalanche for Blake and were critical to the Kings coming within a game of last year's Western Conference finals.

They were among the final six players added by U.S. coach Herb Brooks, who completed his roster for the Winter Games that begin Feb. 15 in Salt Lake City.

``I was very honored. I didn't know what to expect today,'' said Deadmarsh, who played for the U.S. team in Nagano, Japan, at the 1998 Games. ``I knew they were naming the team, but obviously I didn't know it was going to happen (for me). I'm very honored, very excited, and look forward to it.''

Deadmarsh and Miller give the Kings four players heading to the Olympics. Captain Mattias Norstrom will represent Sweden and Mikko Eloranta will play for Finland.

Although several teams are allowing their Slovakian players to participate in a pre-Olympic qualifying tournament, which overlaps the NHL schedule, Kings general manager Dave Taylor said Ziggy Palffy and Lubomir Visnovsky will not participate in that tournament.

``We have not changed on that,'' Taylor said. ``That would mean seven games in seven days. I don't see how it could work.''

Despite his background, Deadmarsh was a bit of a surprise addition to the team. Brooks did not select Mark Parrish of the New York Islanders, who is tied for fifth in the NHL with 18 goals. Deadmarsh, 26, leads the Kings with 12 goals and has 21 points.

Olympic experience didn't help Kings defenseman Mathieu Schneider, a teammate of Deadmarsh's in Nagano.

Schneider is not expected back from abdominal surgery until mid-January.

Miller was considered the Kings' best candidate to make the U.S. team. He has size (6-foot-3) and a strong presence at the blue line. Miller is not a scorer (two goals, three assists), but had two goals - including the overtime game-winner - against the Mighty Ducks last Sunday.

``It's really kind of a relief because we just wanted to know the last week here,'' he said. ``It's been talked about a lot, and to make it - it's awesome.

``It really hasn't sunk in yet. I'm on this road trip thinking about the Ottawa Senators, the Montreal Canadiens, and then all of a sudden, `Oh, yeah, by the way, you're on the Olympic team.' ... I can't wait.''

Miller, 30, was a teammate of Philadelphia's high-scoring forward John LeClair at the University of Vermont.

He was a critical element in the Blake deal. The Kings knew they couldn't replace Blake's offense, but wanted a solid player to stabilize the defense.

``His whole career he's kind of been a little bit underrated,'' Deadmarsh said of Miller. ``I always felt that he's one of the best defensive defensemen in the league and never really got recognized too much for it. This should definitely open up a lot of people's eyes at how good a defenseman he is.''

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(color) Kings left winger Adam Deadmarsh, pictured, and teammate Aaron Miller were among the final six players added to the U.S. Olympic hockey team Saturday. Deadmarsh played for the U.S. team in Nagano, Japan, at the 1998 Games. Miller and Deadmarsh were acquired from the Avalanche in February for Rob Blake.

David Zalubowski/Associated Press