Shrapnel - 12/18/11

Sometimes you look at a weekend and you just say "Well, at least we didn't get 8 goals dropped on us last night."

Oh - also, if you missed it, Steven Stamkos took the NHL's goal scoring lead with his GWG last night...which means that he'll probably blow out his groove thing in his next game, since that position seems to be cursed this year. (Think I'm kidding? Ask Milan Michalek and Claude Giroux.)

Meanwhile, Darryl Sutter is officially the new head coach in LA, and we're just trying to look shocked.

Something interesting at the Dispatch: Michael Arace talks to an expert on urban affairs and pro sports teams, and he sees the recent actions of both the city of Columbus and John P. McConnell as a positive thing for the stability of the Jackets and the city as a whole.

In Montreal, Jacques Martin is out, Randy Cunneyworth is in, and Pierre Gauthier's seat is getting pretty warm.

Backhand Shelf looks at who the Jackets have been beating, and Gallos talks about Craig Patrick over at DBJ.

Oh, you want recaps from last night? Masochist. Have some Puck-Rakers, the Dispatch, Jackets Report, and DBJ.

Kyle Turris was sent to Ottawa in exchange for David Rundblad and a second rounder. If Scott Howson was interested in Turris, I'll bet it was the pick that kept him from making the deal. I think he'd happily move Derick Brassard (or even a defensive prospect like Nick Holden or Theo Ruth), but he knows the team needs every draft pick he can grab this season. Meanwhile, the Coyotes celebrated by giving up a heartbreaker to Brad Richards with 00.1 seconds left on the clock. Man, that sounds familiar.

Brendan Shanahan is likely to be making several phone calls today, but this headshot by Erik Cole might be the worst of all.

Scary news for Sean Couturier - the 8th overall pick was struck by a puck in the side of the head, taken from the game, and had to get his skull checked for internal damage. Yikes. (Insult to injury, the wound came in a 6-0 loss.)

Sidney Crosby was also officially returned to IR after recurring concussion symptoms, and it's likely he won't return before the new year.

Rounding things out, Mike Milbury offered a defense to the Boston Globe, Hitch called out Barry Trotz again, the Capitals are having more goaltending woes, and LTL takes another look at the ISS draft rankings.