Not the hooking, clutching and grabbing I hope? That was just like hockey played on mud instead of ice.
You know, I didn't like it, and back in the day I was a smaller junior player who hated being held by the big guys. However, at least the Dmen had a few more options, plus the red line slowed things down.
Today the D have to have perfect gap control, and the speed through the neutral zone (minus the line) puts so much pressure on them.
Yes this helped the game open up for smaller players, and skill in general, but I also think it makes it harder for teams to shut things down when ahead.
I feel systems and goalie style (plus equipment size) has done way more to slow the game down, even some of the greats say "systems" hockey takes a lot of fun out of the game.
The athletes are bigger, faster, and more skilled, but the game with all these rules changes is not necessarily better. I get it though, you change the rules, increase the speed, put in the instigator, take out self policing, and this makes it more marketable to new fans, but I don't know if that makes the game 100% better.