At the end of the first month of the NHL's 2009-10 campaign a quick perusal of the scoring leaders turns up the usual suspects (Ovechkin, Thornton, Nash, Heatley, Backstrom) and a few surprises (Anze Kopitar - whom I've previously written about- as well as Patrick Marleau and Vaclav Prospal).

The biggest surprise is seeing Edmonton Oilers winger Dustin Penner sitting in a three-way tie for fifth overall in total points (19), tied for fourth in total goals (9) and among the league leaders in total assists (10). Penner also leads the Oilers in total goals and points. 

This is the same Dustin Penner whose signing of a lucrative multi-year offer sheet - five years, .25 million per season - with the Edmonton Oilers whilst a restricted free agent in the summer of 2007 and the Anaheim

The Los Angeles Kings added veteran depth to the defense corps today, claiming blueliner Randy Jones off re-entry waivers from the Philadelphia Flyers. 

Jones' .75 million salary will be split between the Kings and Flyers. It's been suggested the Flyers did this move deliberately in order to get his salary off their books but according to Flyers GM Paul Holmgren that wasn't the case, saying no one had asked him to put Jones on re-entry waivers.

Holmgren had hoped to add Jones to his roster now that forward Simon Gagne has gone on long-term injury reserve, thus freeing up the necessary cap space for Jones' salary. 

Until today Jones' entire NHL career had been spent with the Flyers. His best season was 2007-08, with 5 goals and 31 points in 71 games. He should prove a valuable

-The Columbus Blue Jackets locked up a promising young defenseman on Saturday, re-signing Kris Russell to a three-year contract extension. 

Russell's new contract, which starts in 2010-11, is worth $3.9 million, or $1.3 million per season against the Jackets' salary cap. 

The 22-year-old defenseman is smallish by NHL standards (5-10, 180 lbs) but he has considerable upside as a puck-moving defenseman and made considerable strides last season with 21 points in 66 games. This season he has two points in five games. 

Should the mobile Russell continue his development this signing by the Jackets will prove to be a very affordable addition to their future. 

- The Chicago Blackhawks added forward depth on Saturday by claiming sophomore center Andrew Ebbett off waivers

In a cost-cutting move which could be the prelude to a free agent signing the Tampa Bay Lightning today dealt forward Evgeny Artyukhin to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for winger Drew Miller and a third round pick in 2010. 

The hulking Artyukhin (6-5, 254) led the Lightning in penalty minutes last season with 151 and tallied six goals and 16 points in 72 games last season. Miller had four goals and ten points in 27 games with the Ducks last season. 

More notable however is the Lightning managed to clear an additional $425K in salary cap space with this move and that's led to speculation that extra cash could go toward signing a top-six unrestricted free agent winger. 

The Bolts have been linked with winger Alex Tanguay for weeks in free agent rumors. 

Young goaltender Justin Pogge will have to try to achieve his NHL dream somewhere other than with the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

TSN.ca recently reported Pogge, once considered one of the Leafs most promising prospects, will be dealt today to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a conditional draft pick. 

The writing was on the wall for Pogge once the Leafs successfully signed promising Swedish netminder Jonas Gustavsson earlier this summer. Gustavsson is expected to start this season as the backup for starter Vesa Toskala. 

Pogge was a third round pick of the Leafs in 2004 and after backstopping Team Canada to a gold medal in the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championships (named both tournament MVP and top goalie) and named the CHL's top goaltender of 2005-06 expectations were high

Shortly after signing free agent center Saku Koivu yesterday Anaheim Ducks general manager Bob Murray suggested in an interview he wasn't done making additions, particularly for an experienced defenseman. 

Murray wasted little time addressing that need, signing former Florida Panthers blueliner Nick Boynton to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. 

Once considering a promising blueline prospect with the Boston Bruins, Boynton's stock suffered a decline post-lockout. He staged an ill-advised contract holdout with the Bruins early in the 2005-06 season and struggled to regain his form. 

Peddled to the Phoenix Coyotes he struggled there as well through injuries but seemed to regain his form this past season with the Panthers, although he would clash with head coach Peter DeBoers

Montreal Canadiens fans holding out hope former team captain Saku Koivu might return to their club, or Wild fans hoping Koivu would join young brother Mikko in Minnesota had those hopes dashed today. 

Koivu decided to sign a one-year, $3.25 million contract with the Anaheim Ducks, where he'll undoubtedly play on the club's second line with former Team Finland linemate Teemu Selanne. 

It's only the second NHL team Koivu has played for, having spent his entire 13- season career up to this summer with the Canadiens, nine of those as the club's captain. 

Koivu earned the love of Canadiens fans with his determined play and his character in overcoming serious injuries, including battling back from a life-threatening bout with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2001-02. 

Over the