My guess: Volchenkov is coming back and they didn’t want Urbom riding the pine. Perhaps Corrente has passed him in the depth chart. Given their respective ages, I’d say Urbom can benefit more from time in Albany than Corrente. Not sure why they chose OM-G as a call-up, though.

urbom was benched in the 3rd period and has treated the puck like a loaded grenade. not surprised that he is sent down, a little surprised that magnan-grenier was called up, but magnan-grenier’s salary is lower and would make room for bryce salvador to come back.

Urbom hasn’t been playing a whole heck of a lot (twelve minutes and change per game, if you average it out), and he’s looked very tenative and shaky when he has been on the ice. I think he’s the type of player who could benefit from twenty to twenty-four minutes a night at the AHL level playing in all situations.

OM-G has been in Lowell for the past several years. I imagine part of the logic behind this move is that Johnny Mac knows Olivier from last season and may have more of a comfort level. Considering we’re talking a #6/#7 defenseman on the roster, I can live with this — it isn’t like the season ought to hinge on that part of our roster. Furthermore, if Grenier cannot cut it at the NHL level, I’d rather find out now instead of hoping he can do the job four months from now when every game seems that much more important. I think we all believe at least one defenseman will eventually be traded (be it Salvador or White)…. for all we know, the Devils might have to throw in Fraser or Corrente or Eckford or someone else to get a deal done. If the Devils have multiple vacancies on their blue line later this season, it helps to know who can get the job done.