Almost every UFA goalie signed that year, was signed to shorter term and at worst similar money IIRC. Talbot and Markstrom were the only exceptions I think. I'd have to actually take the time to look up all the UFA goalie signings, and i really just don't care to.
It's irrelevent, because even though It was a dumb signing, and I've said as much from day 1, and we've now literally gotten to watch it blow up in his face for two seasons (as f***ing expected), you seem to think Nill walks on water, and everything he does is great. So continuing this with you is pointless.
I take it you aren't arguing against Dobby's play under his first contract, and if you are, this discussion is indded pointless, as you will never be satisfied. As to his second contract with the Stars in October 2020, Sportsnet ranked him as the top UFA backup goalie, ahead of the others available that year, which included (in order of the Sportsnet rankings), Halak, Greiss, Talbot, Crawford, Dell, Smith, Elliot, Anderson, and Miller.
Jacob Markstrom signed a 6 year / $36,000,000 contract with the Calgary Flames, and was obviously better (although his stats the year before in VAN were nothing special, and I doubt he would sign as a backup with the Stars.
Like you, I am not going to do that work for the other 9 goalies on that list, but none of the names jumps out as a better option (at the time). While we would all have liked (including Nill) to get him for two years instead of three, Dobby's agent knew where he stood and tried to max out the money, which is his job.
So, it wasn't a perfect contract, but no, it was not a dumb signing, Nill isn't an idiot, and as usual, it is just so easy for fans to craft the "he's an idiot" narrative because they have se.......the phrase I am not allowed to use here until Sunday.
And, I don't think Nill walks on water....holy over reaction batman! I just seem to have a more balanced view of his deals compared to most here, where any good deal was pure luck and all the bad ones or average ones would have been avoided if only the Stars had been smart enough to hire that poster as GM, LOL. As someone has noted here, the Oil have changed coaches and GM's with both two of the best players in the NHL, and the results continue to be poor. But somehow, if the Stars changed coach and GM, our results would be Cups for the next twenty years?
Every contract is a real question for owners and GM's. And a real question for owners as to whether replacing the 10th-15th most successful GM is going to improve results. Maybe, the the known quantities at GM are usually locked up, and there are no guarantees a new guy is going to be any better. It is similar to the first round draft pick always being touted by fans as the next great thing who can "easily" replace the current crop (i.e., TyD can replace Faksa for example) but it just doesn't work out that way too often.
