The only games I've noticed that use grinding and checking as a tactic are the North West division games (NHL). Everywhere else I've noticed has been using lots of skill. Look at Ottawa for example, their main line (before they were mostly injured) was amazing, look at Ovechkin and Crosby, a tad overated, but they can handle the puck very well. I haven't really seen any loss of skill...but that might just be me.