My Guess on Next Year

I think there will be something else to happen personally (not EK though)

I don't see what. They are over the cap. I believe the only other thing here might be a trade of Granlund for a similarly priced guy.

Dubas mentioned in his press conference that they are currently not over the cap and actually have cap space to work with. Don't be surprised if he starts the year with a 20 man roster. Him and a lot of other teams did it last year.

So keep Rutta and run a 20 man roster. Maybe sign one more depth guy like ZAR and call it a day.

I think this is ultimately what the team will look like on opening though (with Rutta).

Where there is a will there is a way. I think they'll still work to move Granlund and Rutta. DOC could also hit arbitration and it opens a second buyout window for the penguins (AKA granlund).

There have been very few trades since the draft and with the FA pool basically wiped out and a lot of teams pretty clearly still looking to build out their rosters i'd imagine there will be multiple trades across the league in the coming weeks, which can always then help a team like the penguins to move various guys.

Maybe but a 20 man roster exposes a bunch of guys to waivers. They could very well lose: Ruhwedel, Butcher, Nedelijkovik, Nylander, Nieto...

I think that's a bad idea.