This is weird here I know- black and white absolution is king- but I submit you can argue Willie is earning his contract now AND that Dubas over paid at the time.
It was all about leverage and term, RFA’s, signing bonuses, team friendly, setting the stage for the other two “big 3” and I see no reason to waiver in my view Dubas got bent over by the Nylander camp.
Sitting here today, of course the number makes sense relative to production, impact, perhaps even greater upside. Nobody can complain and really no one is...but spare me the revisionism because I recall exactly the debates and there was a nary a soul who predicted that hit at that term.
I’m enjoying his game this year, it’s been fun, he’s dynamic, exciting and explosive. What hockey fan isn’t happy, what Leafs fan doesn’t enjoy his play this year? Reminds me when he first came up and was such a breath of fresh air, a light amongst a rotten team.
I agree we need to stop fixating on contracts, just don’t try to revisit past realities with today’s perspective.