Newly-signed Alexander Urbom excited to get a shot in Devils' preseason opener

Rookie defenseman Alexander Urbom, who the Devils drafted in the third round, 73rd overall, in June will be in the lineup for the team in its preseason opener Wednesday night against the Rangers at Prudential Center.

Defenseman Mark Fraser will also play Wednesday.

"I know the kids Fraser and Urbom, I wanted to see them," Devils coach Jacques Lemaire said. "[Urbom] is only 18, but I think, like other guys, he's been good. He's a big kid (6-foot-4, 215) and he does a lot of good things and he's got good skills, so we'll see what he does in games."

It's interesting that Frasor will get to play because he never got a sniff of the NHL preseason last year when Brent Sutter was the head coach.

Urbom confirmed to me that he signed an entry level contract (three years) with the Devils, "about five days ago." He'll make $590,000 in the first two years and $615,000 in the third for total of $1.795 million.

"It's going to be real exciting to play with the big guys, real fun," Urbom said.

If Urbom doesn't stick with the NHL team, he'll go play major junior with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.

Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said that Urbom is "scheduled to go to juniors", but would be eligible to go the AHL.

"No decision has been made," Lamorielo said.

Urbom admitted he was "a little bit" surprised that he's going to play in the team's first exhibition game..

"I'm not going to think too much about it, just try to my best and work hard," Urbom said. 

RW Niclas Bergfors, RW Ilklka Pikkarianen, C Patrice Cormirer and RW/LW Vladimir Zharkov will also get a look in the NHL exhibition for the Devils. The full lineup is below.

Lemaire wouldn't reveal the entire lineup, but we were able to piece it together. Goaltender Martin Brodeur will not play. Yann Danis said he would play half of the game. Lemaire would not confirm if rookie Jeff Frazee will play the other half, but that appears as if it will be the case.

"How we did this is I asked the assistants who we should try and Lou (Lamoriello) who we should play in the exhibition games so we can see them, if they can play, if they can make the team," Lemaire said.

Urbom has been taking the simple approach to camp and it's been working.

"I'm just trying to do my best and work as hard as I can, not think so much about (making thje team)," he said.

How has he impresed the coaches?

"I don't know," he said. "I'm trying to play tough and play hard, make the good first pass, just work hard and do my best."

Urbom played in the Swedish Elite League last season with Devils' 2009 first-round pick Jacob Josefson. Practicing with the NHL players has been a big step up, though.

"Of course, it's the the NHL guys and they're real quick," Urbom said. "Every player is so much better in all areas, so it's fun to play."

Urboms said having defenseman Johnny Oduya around has been helpful.

"Yeah, he's Swedish, so he helps me sometimes and explains some drills to me too," Urbom said. "(Assistant coach) Tommy Albelin too."

Urbom said he planned to come to North America to play major junior before the Devils drafted him. He's still a long shot to make the NHL team, but maybe his trip to Brandon might be delayed a little.

***

Here's the forwards and defensemen that will play Wednesday.

Forwards: Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Brendan Shanahan; Brian Rolston-Dainius Zubrus-Niclas Bergfors; Vladimir Zharkov-Patrice Cormier-David Clarkson; PLL Lebond-Rod Pelley-Illkka Pikkairainen.

Defensemen: Bryce Salvador-Cory Murphy; Mike Mottau-Johnny Oduya; Mark Fraser-Alexander Urbom.

***

What would Lemaire like to see from players in the preseason opener?

"What we've been practicing," Lemaire said. 'We want to be fast. We want to be excellent on [creating] turnovers. We want to have puck control and we want to play in the other team's end. It's easier."

Lemaire said players in the second group today would still get a chance to practice and play with the NHL players.

"In the next two days, we will get guys in the second group  [in with the first]," Lemaire said.

Lemaire liked what he saw from morning group today.

"They worked well today," he said. "When you have all of the kids, you don't really see your team. And the second day we had the NHL players together, so we could see it a little more. And now we have all of them [together] today. So, now you start to have a little idea of how it's going to [look]."

***

Although Shanahan was with Parise and Zajac again today, Lemaire said again that Jamie Langenbrunner will go back to playing on his old line eventually.

"The lines that were really good last year, you know what? They will be the same lines this year," Lemaire said. "And if they're not good, then they won't be the same lines." 

***

Lemaire on the difference between the Devils and the players he had in Minnesota: "I think the puck the control is better [with the Devils]. I haven't looked at the defensemen the difference, but I know the forwards here, I think they're better with the puck. They use each other better. We had one line that was good at it in Minny. Here, from what I see, we've got two lines that are good and we've got a kid line that is doing well."

The kid line Lemaire was referring to was the line of Zharkov, Patrice Cormier and David Clarkson.

"The line is going well," Lemaire said. "It's a good line. But, again, everything could go down the drain tomorow night."

Comments

[Triumph]

TG - do you know why Urbom is not eligible for the AHL? Niclas Bergfors played in the AHL as an 18 year old in 2005-06 after coming over from Sweden.

[TG]

Bergfors was not affiliated with any junior team. The Brandon Wheat Kings hold Urbom's rights, so he has to go to junior if he's not in the NHL.

[Devilswede]

Urbom and Cormier are in the same situation, junior teams have their rights. But they can still play in 9 NHL regular season games without losing a year of their NHL contracts. If they play in 10 (or more) NHL games they can still be sent back to their junior team but the Devils would lose one year of their respective NHL contract.

[TheUglyTruth]

Bergfors was affiliated with The St. John's Fog Devils of the QMJHL. They drafted him in the CHL Import Draft and he practiced and played a few exhibition games with them.

[Triumph]

TG - that's not true by my recollection, I remember Bergfors being drafted by the St. John's Fog Devils of the QMJHL.

[Sean]

what players do you think are up for trades?

[modnarm]

very interesting how Lemaire seems to like that 'kid line' of Zharkov-Cormier-Clarkson. I just don't see how everyone will fit.

ZZpops
Rolly, Zubrus, Bergfors (?)
Pando-Pelley-Shanahan
Zharkov-Cormier-Clarkson?

Maybe Pikka isn't all the hes cracked up to be? Maybe Bergfors doesn't impress, the 'kids line' clicks, and upon Elias' return Lemaire runs Elias-Zubrus-Rolston?

I have no problem with
Parise-Zajac-Langenbrunner
Elias-Zubrus-Rolston
Pandolfo-Pelley-Shanahan
Zharkov-Cormier-Clarkson

Fairly good depth and who knows, maybe the kid line will end up being the 3rd line! I always thought more highly of Zharkov than Bergfors.. simply based on write-ups and stats and draft year/positions. Thats not to say i don't want Bergfors to succeed..

But you would Have to Think.. that by now if he was doing well that we'd read something exciting about him. THat Lemaire would say something positive and confident about him.. he just seems to be just another one of the guys, and Cormier and Zharkov are the ones sticking out. Hey, 2 IS BETTER THAN ONE!

[slivedmb]

every line has someone i cant wait to see play. obviously i want to see how zajac looks to see if last year was a fluke or has he still got it. his two way play improved so much last year. bergfors im hoping does something to catch my eye. i want to see what Pikkairainen brings to the table...im hoping for another player close to what holik brought us when he was young. scored timly goals but completly took players of the opposing team off there game. my favorite line to watch will be the comrier line. im really excited about this kid. i think he has size and skill already. if he was smaller i would say maybe to early, but he can handle himself. cant wait to watch this game tomorrow! oh and i almost forgot. corey murphy will prove why he should play for the big boys tomorrow...i would bet on it.

[TG]

Sorry. I don't remember that. I'll try to get a clarification on it. Maybe I'm wrong.

[J-L]

Is Doc going to call the play-by-play on Wednesday? Since the game is on both MSG and MSG+, I assume the devils announcers will be broadcast on MSG+..Correct?

[MikeR]

Modnarm

Ain't no way Clarkson going to be put on the fourth line.

[TG]

I saw Steve Cangiolisi here earlier. I don't know if that means he's doing the game or what.

I know Chico is supposed to be here, though.

[modnarm]

if hes better paired with them, making himself AND them better i don't see why not. Thats the whole point of line chemistry. Like i said, if they really impress and get solid over time they may be our 3rd line.

its just speculation.

[TG]

I just spoke with Devils GM Lou Lamoriello said that because Urbom is signed he is elibigle to play in the AHL this season. Lamoriello said right now, "He's scheduled to go to junior" and "no decision as been made" on whether he might go to Lowell instead.

I corrected the story above. Sorry I got it wrong originally.

[New Guy]

with Shanny on a line with Zach and Zajac shouldn't we call it ZZGrandpops?

[TG]

Apparently the rules are different for European imports. Patrice Cormier (as one example) would have to go back to junior if he doesn't play in the NHL this season.

[Triumph]

TG - no problem, the rules are so confusing; personally i hope urbom goes to the whl anyway and would prefer if there was no choice.

[MoonDragn]

Hi TG,

Do you know why Mottau is paired with Oduya and why Greene was taken out? Do you think Lemaire just wants to see how those combos work out?

What do you think Lemaire's impression of Greene is?

[TG]

I wouldn't say Bergfors has "stood out" so far, but I wouldn't read anything into no quotes coming from Lemaire about him.

No one has actually asked about Bergfors yet. What can you ask at this point? These are practices and he's been through this numerous times. Similarly, no one has asked about Pelley either.

Those guys will be topics for the preseason games.

These other players -- Cormier, Urbom, Zharkov -- are really getting their first real looks and are in either their first or second camp -- though Zharkov got in one NHL preseason game last year.

The quotes on young players you have seen from Lemaire have been the result of questions. Even then, Lemaire seems apprehensive to say anything specific about any of the young players.

He's been asked numerous times about Cormier and hasn't said much other than "he was fine."

[Neil S]

I think everyone is reading way too much into things. Modnarm, not to call you out, but umm, I'm gonna call you out lol. I hate to say it, but a lot of these guys like Zharkov and Cormier are most likely not going to be with the Devils to start the season. That's why everyone fits. Travis Zajac said Pikkarainen moves the puck well and Lou said he was signed to play in NJ. Why would they put Clarkson on the 4th line after saying he's going to get more minutes and more responsibility this year? Why would they play Zharkov on the 4th line with Cormier and Clarkson? What purpose does that serve him if he's a goal scorer, and for that matter what does it serve Cormier when he could go back to junior and get more time to develop in the Q?

I know everyone is looking for the brilliant whiz kid savior that will make the lack of off-season moves seem genius, but that's just not likely to happen yet. Be patient, let's see what happens with Elias, let's take a look at some of the preseason games and see how these guys do. Even if they tear it up in the preseason, remember the lineup they're playing against isn't full of NHLers either. The Devils very likely have a bright future with a lot of these younger players, but that future is probably still a little ways a way for some of these guys.

[Neil S]

Oh and TG, the Brandon Wheat Kings are in the WHL, not OHL.

[MoonDragn]

I dunno, I don't think Modnarm is wrong. I think both Zharkov and Cormier are getting at least called up during the season if there are injuries if they don't make the team.

In my opinion they are the ones closest to being ready for the NHL.

[Falcone]

So Cormier might make this team???

[TG]

You know, I thought Urbom said OHL, so that's what I wrote. Obviously, Brandon is in the WHL. Bad mistake by me. Sometimes I'm trying to churn out all of this stuff as quickly as possible and make dumb ones. Other times it's just brain cramps.

[Futureman]

I saw alot of WJC last year and I thought Cormier was sick.