For sure the hacking and slashing was way worse back in the "enforcer era".
Think of Doug Risebrough and John Tonelli for example. It wasn't a successful shift (let alone game) if those guys didn't lay the lumber on someone. They were universally admired players and winners. They never had to fight an enforcer over it. Sure, they riled up the opposition (Riser especially) but he never had to fight Dave Brown because he chopped Glenn Anderson in the hands (or face). He did once get pummelled by McSorley, but that was just for general peskiness and not the way he played defense (which involved slashing).
|