[Alberta's Child]

The Enforcer was also a function of how teams used their depth in that era. Teams carried 18 skaters — typically 12 forwards and 6 defensemen. The standard approach to managing this roster was to use three forward lines and two defense pairs, with the fourth forward line and third defense pair used sparingly. The Enforcer was usually a fourth-line winger or the sixth defenseman.

Over the last 25 years, the standard approach to roster management has changed dramatically. Teams roll four lines and three defense pairs, so every skater on the roster has to be able to contribute for 10+ minutes per game. Teams simply don’t have room for “spare parts” on an active roster of 18 skaters anymore, so the Enforcer has quietly disappeared from the game.

[Tallguy]

Thanks. The game has definitely moved toward skill. Are teams still playing the “leftwing lock” counter-attack style? Used to drive me nuts in the 80’s & 90’s when some pretty good offensive teams got throttled by a center ice mugging.