Deadmarsh’s Season Remains on Hold

For Adam Deadmarsh, a once promising season is close to a premature ending.

After recording three multiple-goal games and scoring nine goals in the first 15 games of the season, Deadmarsh suffered a concussion at Toronto on Nov. 12. It has been a roller-coaster ride ever since.

“Everything is up in the air right now,� said Deadmarsh, who returned to score four goals in five games in December but has sat out the last 29 games. He has not played since Dec. 15, when he was accidentally kneed in the head by teammate Craig Johnson in a game at Phoenix. “I don’t know what the best path to take to get back quicker. No one knows for sure, and that’s frustrating.�

Without Deadmarsh’s toughness around the net and steady drive on the ice, the Kings have struggled. And they are starting to believe that Deadmarsh won’t return soon.

“We haven’t seen a lot of positive changes,� General Manager Dave Taylor said about the 27-year-old winger who’s second on the team in goals with 13 despite playing only 20 games.

Deadmarsh, who sat out 14 games because of a concussion in 2000-01, is expected to meet with neurologist Ronald Andiman of Inglewood this week.

“Ultimately, it comes down to waiting for the symptoms to go away,� said Deadmarsh, who has not skated in recent weeks but has been performing daily balance tests and eye exercises. “I’m not sure if anything can speed that up.�

*

TONIGHT

at Philadelphia, 5 PST, ESPN

Site -- First Union Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 25-26-4-4, Flyers 30-16-11-2.

Record vs. Flames -- 0-1-0-0.

Update -- The Flyers are 1-0-2 in their last three games, all of which ended in overtime. The addition of Sami Kapanen from Carolina has made Philadelphia even more physical up front. The Flyers defeated the Kings, 4-1, at Staples Center last month.