The St. Louis Blues have been changing their roster makeup, as have several NHL teams, over the course of the last decade or so. The emphasis is on skill up and down the lineup now, making the days of the old-school enforcer all but gone.
One can argue whether that makes the game better or not, and that is an ongoing argument among fans, players and executives alike. Much of it depends on your own sensibilities.
However, the growing sentiment from the outsiders looking in is that the elimination of fighting within the game of hockey is something that must be achieved.