from Travis Yost of TSN,
Like never before, today's NHL has an insatiable appetite for competent even-strength hockey players. And there are a lot of factors at play here.
For one, the phasing out of enforcers and specialists has created a window of opportunity for a wave of skill players to take on larger roles at both positions. Front offices in Vancouver and Toronto have pointed to successful models in Los Angeles and Chicago - two franchises which have enjoyed reliable production from those bringing up the rear.
And teams are cognizant that first lines and first pairings win a lot of hockey games. But finding the appropriate balance between maximizing their ice-time and minimizing fatigue effects has led to further prioritization of back end guys who can pick up the slack as needed.
There's another factor at play – the creation of more even-strength ice time by the continued decrease in penalties.
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