The one thing that's changed is the education packages CHL teams offer their players. ECHL teams are less likely to take chances on major junior players, because a few can play part of a year and then leave in December to go to college (where they can retain their eligibility if they play in Canada) and use their education package, which has a time limit for use.
A four-year NCAA player (who played Junior A until the age 20 year) is a rookie at 24 years of age, and usually doesn't hit the 260-game vet minimum until 28. A major junior grad is 20 years of age and hits the vet minimum at the same time the NCAA player is a rookie, which is a big reason why ECHL teams have begun to move toward signing more college players (who are older and likely won't go back to school) and fewer major junior grads (who are younger and hit the vet minimum earlier in their careers, plus can use their ed package).