VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Where many express concern, Jarmo Kekalainen says he sees only opportunity about the uncertain state of the Columbus Blue Jackets roster a week before NHL free agency. To Kekalainen, the fear of possibly losing stars such as Matt Duchene, Artemi Panarin and goalie Sergei Bobrovsky on July 1 is offset by the knowledge that their departures would open significant space under the salary cap.

That would put the Blue Jackets general manager in prime position to fill those holes through trades or free agency at a time when the newly announced $81.5 million payroll maximum for next season is forcing various cap-strapped teams to shed salary.

"I think every $100,000 or every $1,000 counts at this point for some teams that are going to be squeezed," Kekalainen said shortly after the new cap number — $1.5 million lower than initially projected — was announced. "They're going to have to sell their problems. We could be a solution."