100% percent agree with you on that. I wanted to mention it in my first post, and it was on my mind while writing that.
Keep in mind that up until the last 10-15 years I am guessing, that there was less camaraderie off the ice among the players than there is now. Today especially, there are so many development camps, specialty training, etc that these guys are all buddies off the ice moreso now than ever. Sure you can put friendships aside during the heat of the battle, but this may play in the "entitle prima donnas" aspect of what you are talking about.
When the Flames had their minor league team in my home town, Vernon, Roberts and Otto shared a townhouse a street over from me, they had plenty of comradery, their off ice stories were epic ...
the true stories and the ones that were made up about them.
In todays day, when you are away from the rink, it's about diet, exercise, playing video games, Instagram, and other soft stuff. Back in the mid 80's it was about beer, women and cigarettes and sneaking out after curfew
stories like Guy Lafleur smoking in the locker room between periods... were quite common...