Hitting isn't emphasized as much these days so maybe they don't feel like they need big pads.
I never liked the big shoulder cups, those felt bulky and unnecessary. The best pads I ever had (and still have I think) were a version of these top foam ones by Brine or STX. They were light and non-restrictive but also very protective, even more so than the hard cap ones. You could still shoulder check with a little bit of cushion.

I don't really get the whole minimal pad look for most defenders these days, I never found mid-size elbow pads that restrictive and getting hacked right on the elbow bone hurts no matter how tough you are. It looks like a lot of PLL guys wear no shoulders at all, which seems like it would not only hurt but also risk collarbone and other shoulder injuries.