Back in December, The Copper & Blue looked at Dustin Penner's start and saw that he was on pace to do something that only Wayne Gretzky had been able to accomplish as a member of the Edmonton Oilers -- lead the team in Goals, Assists, Points, and +/-. Gretzky did this four different times from 1981-1987, and did one better. Gretzky led the league in those four categories four times. As Bruce said in the comments section:

99 led not just the Oilers but the NHL in all 4 categories in 4 different seasons between 1981-87. He lost the +/- crown to Charlie Huddy in ’82-83 and Mark Howe in ’85-86, and Jari Kurri led the league in goals that same ’85-86 campaign, but in ’81-82, ’83-84, ’84-85, and ’86-87 Gretzky swept the lot.

So Dustin Penner's incredible season wasn't just a great personal accomplishment, it was historic. The Oilers haven't had much to hang their hats on this season, but this is certainly worth recognizing. For the first time since 1986-1987, one player led the Edmonton Oilers in all four categories.

Lowetide recapped Penner's season thusly:

In the fall I wondered if he could deliver enough offense to stay on the 1line, and by spring I'm convinced he could be the cornerstone of a 1line for years to come. This was a wonderful season delivered by a player in his prime and with many years of similar level production straight ahead.

In additional to the traditional stats, Penner swept the Oilers Advanced Stats categories as well. He led the team in PTS/60, +-ON/60, Corsi, and Scoring Chances Differential. He also led the team in Shots. Nearly every statistical category that that both traditionalists and microstats adherents track was dominated by Dustin Penner.

Year Player Goals Player

Assists

Player Points Player +/- 1988 Carson 49

Messier

61

Kurri 102 Muni

43

1989 Messier 45 Messier 84

Messier 129 Gregg

24 1990 Klima

40

Messier 52

Tikkanen

69 Klima

24

1991 Damphousse 38 Damphousse 51 Damphousse 89 Maciver

20 1992 Klima 32 Nicholls 32 Klima 48 Gelinas

3 1993 Arnott 33 Weight

50 Weight 74 Arnott

1 1994 Oliver 16 Weight 33 Weight 40 Kennedy

2 1995 Ciger 31 Weight 79 Weight 104 Satan

0 1996 Smyth 39 Weight 61 Weight 82 Marchment

13 1997 Weight 26 Weight 44 Weight 70 Tie

9 1998 Guerin 30 Guerin 34 Guerin 64 Poti

10 1999 Smyth 28 Weight 51 Weight 72 Smith

16 2000 Smyth 31 Weight 65 Weight 90 Tie

15 2001 Comrie 33 Niinimaa 39 Tie 60 Comrie

16 2002 Smyth 27 Marchant

40

Smyth 61 Reasoner

19 2003 Smyth 23

Smyth 36

Smyth 59 Ulanov 18

2004















2005 Smyth 36

Hemsky

58

Hemsky 77 Staios 10

2006 Smyth 31

Hemsky 40

Tie

53 Thoresen

-1

2007 Penner

23

Hemsky 51

Hemsky 71 Nilsson

8

2008 Tie 23

Hemsky 43

Hemsky 66 Grebeshkov

12 2009 Penner 32

Penner 31

Penner 63 Penner

6

Bruce points out that Penner really didn't lead the Oilers in +/- as both Ryan Whitney and Ales Hemsky outpaced him there, but neither player came close to playing enough qualifying games to be considered among the team leaders. Bruce is calling this an asterisk, but I don't see it that way as the rules for statistical qualification are have been in place for a long time. Besides given the way this season went, more games for either of those two may have meant long runs of minus play.

Even with the asterisk, Penner becomes the fifth Oiler to lead the team in Goals, Assists and Points. He would keep company with Mark Messier, Vincent Damphousse, Doug Weight and Ryan Smyth, but that only matters to Bruce.

Penner's historical season places him on some rare ice, with only The Great One to keep him company.