When he's not trying out for "Frogger: The Movie" (co-starring John Goodman as Mac Truck), Anze Kopitar(notes) of the Los Angeles Kings is leading the NHL in scoring with 32 points; not bad, considering he finished 45th in points during the 2008-09 season.

We all know it's been a goofed-up, topsy-turvy season. Star players have been injured. Good teams have gone bad, and teams that were previously thought to be bad have skated out of Calgary with a three-point lead in the Northwest Division last night.

That unpredictability has spilled over in the scoring race, as we take a check of the leaderboard just over a month-and-a-half into the season. How many of last year's Top 20 scorers are currently in the Top 20 this season?

Eight. Which is to say that there are 12 players defying expectations this season, like Mr. Kopitar.

First, a comparison between the leading scorers at the end of last regular season and the ones in the Top 20 as of this morning, with the brighter names on the left also hitting the list this season:

Some of the missing in action from one year to the next are understandable due to injury: Ilya Kovalchuk(notes) of the Atlanta Thrashers (11 games played), Marc Savard(notes) of the Boston Bruins (7 games), Daniel Sedin(notes) (4 games) and, of course, Evgeni Malkin(notes) of the Pittsburgh Penguins, who missed a few games but has 17 points in 14 appearances this season.

That accounts for most of the wounded; what about the rest?

Pavel Datsyuk(notes), Detroit Red Wings (16 points): A snail's-paced start (2 points in 5 games) has finally been shaken off, as Datsyuk now has 12 points in his last nine games. His goal-scoring (4 goals on the season) still needs to pick up, but he's gaining steam with 16 points.

Jarome Iginla(notes), Calgary Flames (17 points): See Datsyuk, Pavel. Four points in the opening eight games caused concern; he quieted them with 11 points in 8 games and now has 12 goals on the season, tying him for fourth in the NHL. Whether he returns to the leader board at the end of the season pretty much depends on Olli Jokinen's(notes) success; but then again, what in Calgary doesn't this season?

Jeff Carter(notes), Philadelphia Flyers (19 points): His 19 points in 17 games puts him right outside the Top 20. By this time last season, Carter had 11 goals on the way to a stunning 46 overall. He has seven right now. One change worth watching: Carter played with a lot with Joffrey Lupul(notes) last season, who left in the Pronger trade; this season, his primary winger man has been Danny Briere(notes).

Michael Cammalleri(notes), Montreal Canadiens (16 points): Again, not a bad start for him, with 16 points in 21 games for what's been a pretty underwhelming Habs team. In fact, he only had 15 points at this time last season. On a line with Scott Gomez(notes) and Brian Gionta(notes), it's not hard to imagine he's going to hit the leaderboard again.

Mike Richards(notes), Philadelphia Flyers (17 points): He has 17 points in 17 games, which puts him right around the 80-point pace he had last season. Now, it's fair to ask why he isn't putting up better numbers with the talent the Flyers have up front and with the best power play (27 percent conversion rate) in the NHL. But it's also fair to say that Simon Gagne's(notes) injury caused a little reshuffling of the forwards that left Richards playing with a few different combos so far. He's done enough offensively to keep the Flyers and Pierre McGuire smiling, though.

Martin St. Louis(notes), Tampa Bay Lightning (19 points): He's got 19 points in 18 games, and helped turn Steven Stamkos(notes) into a Top 20 scorer. He'll be fine.

Alexander Semin(notes), Washington Capitals (17 points): He has 17 points in 18 games, and has shown flashes of the offensive brilliance that landed him on the leaderboard last season. But he's been battling a wrist injury for the better part of two weeks, and it kept him out of the lineup against the New York Rangers last night. Something to watch.

Mike Ribiero, Dallas Stars (15 points): With 15 points in 19 games, Ribiero might not appear to be struggling; but seven of those points game in his first five games. He had 18 points at this juncture last season for a Dallas team that was sinking into the toilet. It's not panic time -- he's a streaky scorer. But with the Brad Richards(notes) line playing well, the Stars need a little more out of Jamie Benn(notes), Brenden Morrow(notes) and Ribeiro.

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The bottom line: Nearly all of these guys are in the hunt again, even as some of their conditions have changed. Clearly, a healthy Kovalchuk or Malkin will get back into the Top 20 in no time. What'll be interesting is if some of the surprises this season -- Rich Peverely, Ryan Smyth(notes) and Dustin Penner(notes), for example -- can keep up their early-season paces.

As well as if we'll be talking about Marian Gaborik's(notes) actual points and goals in April, or what he would have scored had it not been for his injuries. So far, so good for him; the Rangers have to be pleased.