That's under the assumption that they would have had no way other of coming up with the money. A short term bridge loan doesn't make for much of a documentary.The Rangers and/or Canucks could have had both Messier and Sakic. Had someone signed Sakic on 7/1/997, then they would have gotten. At that point, Air Force One had not come out yet, and the Avalanche wouldn't have mad the money to match.