The harsh business practices of professional sports can be seen every day.

Agents impacting trades. Players changing allegiances like medieval mercenaries. Management playing hardball on contract negotiations.

	Deadmarsh has found a way to give it his all with the Kings.

But Los Angeles Kings forward Adam Deadmarsh has a unique perspective on how harsh the NHL can be. Last month, after his wife had just given birth prematurely to twin girls, Deadmarsh was traded from Colorado in the Rob Blake deal. His wife and newborn children still hadn't come home from the hospital.

"Right when it first happened, I was upset at the whole situation and couldn't understand it," said Deadmarsh, who will face his old team for the first time today in Los Angeles. "But after sitting down, I understood hockey is a business. It was a business decision and understandable. It's not a personal matter, and that's how you have to treat it."

Beyond the normal shock of leaving the only NHL team he'd known and the city he'd been in since 1995, Deadmarsh had to go to Los Angeles to play hockey for a new team while it was so critical for him to be near home.

But the harsh reality is that quests for the Stanley Cup wait for no one, so Deadmarsh headed to California.

"I, obviously, had other things on my mind," said Deadmarsh, who is now be thankful that his family is out of the hospital, albeit far away in Denver.

"But once I get my equipment on and get out there, I'm pretty focused. I have a job to do on the ice and as a father and husband (off the ice)."

Another potential downer was that Deadmarsh left the league's most talented team. But he says that isn't exactly a negative because of the intense playoff race the Kings are currently in.

L.A.'s playoff hopes

The Kings are in a dogfight for the No. 8 seed. Coach Andy Murray thinks the Kings, despite currently sitting at No. 9 in the West, still have a good chance. "We have to believe we can get in. If not, there's no reason to go to the rink," said the second-year coach. Murray admits that not having the distraction of Rob Blake's status has helped the team remain competitive down the stretch. But not nearly as much as the addition of goalie Felix Potvin. "To me, he's the biggest difference," Murray said of Potvin, who is 10-4-4 with a 2.07 GAA and .912 save percentage with the Kings. "We can talk about the Blake trade, but the addition of Potvin has been good for our team. "His best year in hockey, he had five shutouts in Toronto. He already has four for us."

"It's two different situations – both are exciting," Deadmarsh said. "It was exciting in Colorado trying to win the President's Trophy. Now here, it's a different excitement, trying to make the playoffs. It's making the game fun, battling for a playoff spot."

As far as his on-ice job, Deadmarsh has struggled with the Kings, scoring just one goal in 13 games while battling a nagging hand injury.

He's still adjusting to a new team.

"They play a few different styles here – neutral-zone stuff is different here. (But) I feel pretty comfortable with the system here."

Regardless of his low production so far – and whether his family situation has impacted it – Kings coach Andy Murray could care less about Deadmarsh's statistics thus far. Murray likes what Deadmarsh brings to the team. Deadmarsh, a 6-foot, 205-pound right wing, is being used much like he was in Colorado – as a physical two-way winger providing an occassional key goal – with the exception of a few extra minutes of ice time with the Kings.

"First of all, he's the type of player we needed here in L.A.," Murray said. "We have some skill players, but we needed a little more grit along with skill."

Deadmarsh has done an impressive job of maintaining professional focus through a challenging time, and there' no doubting his grit – on or off the ice.

Brian A. Shactman covers the NHL for ESPN.com. He can be reached at brian.shactman@espn.com.