That's how I learned it too. I started playing near the beginning of the 1950s. We were "allowed", nay, instructed, to IMPEDE the puck carrier. I liked the game better back then than today's game, with players falling down on their own, and the closest defender gets called for tripping, or teams have pantomime artists who flip their heads backwards to pretend they were high-sticked, and the ref calls a penalty.
That’s what made Jackman an NHL defenseman, along with others.
I’m fine with opening up the game and letting the skill show more. I disagree with the one fight at a time rule. The rules in general have always been a joke. There’s slashing and cross checking all the time but don’t get called. It’s always been like this.