When once, enforcers were a staple in a hockey team's lineup, today, they're a dying breed. More and more teams are starting to cast aside their tough, five-minutes-a-night guys in favour of players who can take a regular shift, and be counted on to do a little more than provide security and intimidation.
That's not to say big players aren't valued. That will never be the case. But in the changing landscape of the NHL, it's not good enough to simply be big anymore. You need to add something else to the table to keep your spot.
As enforcers start to depart from the league in favour of the minors, and even overseas - remember Kevin Westgarth?