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

Mike Comrie is returning home to Edmonton after a six year hiatus, signing a one-year, $1.125 million contract. 

Comrie, 29, is taking a significant pay cut from the $4 million he earned last season with the NY Islanders, a clear indication of how much his stock has fallen since signing that extension with the Isles back in February 2008.

His best season came with the Oilers in 2001-02 scoring a career-best 33 goals and 60 points. 

Things however turned ugly for Comrie when he staged a 30-game contract holdout as a restricted free agent early in the 2003-04 season, resulting in then-Oilers GM Kevin Lowe shipping him to Philadelphia. 

The Ottawa Senators, whom Comrie was dealt to late last season, were believed interested in re-signing him but lacked the cap space owing