I very much disagree with the concept that coaches should get more of a pass on things because they're coaching sports and it's different. I've worked all sorts of jobs and they all had different dynamics, physical and verbal abuse weren't given a pass at any of them, that stuff was taken seriously. There are repercussions for certain actions.
Getting heated and yelling at someone isn't the same as doing that thing on a consistent basis. Nor is it the same as using racial language or threatening to bury guys or have them moved off the team. Getting heated and maybe grabbing someone's pads isn't the same as punching, kicking, ect. Especially not if if the latter is done repetitively. Coaches are very much in a position of power, they need to be mindful of that. If a coach can't motivate a team or individual without resorting to what would be considered abuse nowadays they probably need to dig into that and examine that. There are many people out there who are responsible for teams, whether they be sports or professional subordinates, who find ways to make sure what's needed to be done is done without resorting to such methods.
I'd like to think that most coaches are actually pretty great at their jobs, and I'm aware that coaches are human and people make mistakes. But I'd also like to think that most people are generally aware of social norms and lines they shouldn't be crossing.
Things are changing, I feel hockey culture is gradually changing again like it has the last ten years or so regarding concussions. If Stevens leveled Kariya today like he did back then it'd be a totally different thing, he'd be crucified. But it was acceptable then. Thing is, what's acceptable is and always has been changing and those changes impact things whether we like or agree with them or not. At one point slavery was perfectly legal, segregation was the social norm. Conduct that might not have meant much in the 70's or 80's would likely be considered sexual assault or harassment nowadays. Homophobia is much less socially acceptable than it was even ten years ago. What's acceptable changes and people are often forced to adapt in turn (learning new technology for a secretary job in comparison to how things might have been if a person had started such a job fifteen or twenty years ago).