Biggest change isn’t at the top half of the roster though - super skilled guys that were top line talent like Skinner and St Louis always got their shot.
Biggest change is getting rid of veterans, size, and grit on the 3rd and 4th lines and more teams having more space for young talent and smaller guys on those lines.
That would be the thing now for guys like Boyd and Dawes. Back in 2011 it was more top 6 or bust where as now teams are more willing to have guys like that in their bottom 6.
The New York Islanders and their two lines of 4th line veteran grit notwithstanding. No thread on it but they gave a goon with 3 career NHL goals a 4 year contract - has to be the first non-ELC contract where term was longer than career goals for a forward.
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