How $300,000,000 Hollywood actor Harrison Ford's blockbuster success once stopped Joe Sakic from becoming Wayne Gretzky's teammate

By Ankit Kumar

Modified Aug 27, 2023 18:21 GMT

An unexpected twist took place in 1997 which could've allowed Joe Sakic to play with Wayne Gretzky. During the summer of that year, Hollywood actor Harrison Ford, known for his iconic roles, inadvertently influenced the fate of Sakic and altered the course of NHL history.

With a staggering net worth of $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth, Harrison Ford is renowned for his memorable performances in films that have left a mark on popular culture. However, his impact reached beyond the silver screen and into the realm of professional ice hockey.

In the competitive landscape of the NHL, offer sheets are a rarity. These moves involve attempting to lure restricted free agents away from their current teams by offering lucrative contracts, often leading to friction. The summer of 1997 witnessed one such attempt when the New York Rangers set their sights on Joe Sakic, a marquee player for the Colorado Avalanche.

At the time, the Rangers were aiming to bolster their lineup after the departure of veteran player Mark Messier. Sakic, an Avalanche superstar, was a prime candidate to fill the void. The Rangers presented a three-year, $21 million offer sheet to Sakic that could've brought him to the bright lights of New York to play with Wayne Gretzky.

The Avalanche were facing financial challenges. Despite their on-ice success, the team was struggling to balance its books. This vulnerability made them susceptible to the Rangers' tactic.

However, the move never materialized, partly due to Harrison Ford's 1997 film "Air Force One," where he portrayed the President of the United States. The movie, a thrilling action-packed blockbuster, was co-financed by Beacon Entertainment, a subsidiary of Ascent Entertainment, a company in charge of the Avalanche at the time.

Beacon Entertainment's investment in "Air Force One" turned out to be a significant financial success, with the film amassing over $315 million at the box office. Ascent Entertainment's share of the profits provided the company with the funds needed to match the Rangers' offer sheet for Sakic. In doing so, they retained the player.

Had "Air Force One" not enjoyed the box office success it did, the outcome could have been vastly different. Joe Sakic, a player who desired to play in New York (Wayne Gretzky's team at that time) and a franchise desperate for his talents, may have ended up donning the Rangers jersey instead.

By keeping Sakic, the Avalanche maintained their status as a competitive force in the league. They reached multiple conference finals and secured a second Stanley Cup championship during the 2000-01 season.