Once the mid 90's hit, the NHL was a much tougher, more physical league with a lot more hooking, holding, and physical play then now. The rules have changed the game a lot since then. A lot smaller and less physical players can excel in the current NHL, there is less contact and more room for players now. Size was more important back then. I don't think the players are that much better now then they were at that point, I just think the rules allow smaller, more skilled, and less physical players to excel. A number of players in the current league would not have excelled under the old rules. They would be too small, soft, and not physical enough, just as a lot of the big, physical, less skilled grinders in that era, would not excel under the current rules. The game rules and play style has changed a lot since then.