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.
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.