Is the NHL more violent than it used to be?

I would say yes as it you considered hockey from the 1970's, they would not fight to entertain as the lack of helmets would prevent them from being too rough. Today, skills are not the main focus in North America as it is in Europe but fighting seems to get better ratings. Too bad real people are really getting hurt in the process: the players and their families.

Players generally don't get away with as much as before. But today's games are not without their "legal" scuffles; the refs generally know how long to let it go before stepping in, and they generally DO penalize the actual cheap shots.
Certain individual players will still always attempt the "cheap" shots, but I think that the vast majority of guys play fair and never intend actual injury.
Glaring exception...the 3 reconstructive facial surgeries Kris Draper of the Red Wings needed after the Colorado player C Lemiuex boarded him face first AFTER play had ceased. Utterly senseless action. All hockey players were embarrassed by the stupidity of that one attack.

Not at all. I don`t think most players of today would make it in the NHL of like 20 years ago. It was much rougher then.

No. It is tremendously less violent than in the "good old days" pre-1980's. +5

From a fighting standpoint no. But from players giving each other cheap shots yes. +4

I keep hearing and am being told that it is indeed a lot more violent than before, but I watch hockey like, never.
So I'm not sure.

Used to be? As in 'when'? The sixties? seventies? eighties? How do you get more violent than that? It is either as violent or less, now...one or the other.