What is more legendary is that you for some reason are surprised by this.
Get a damn clue as to who you are talking about.
Vesey is NOT a playmaker. He is not a guy who sets his linemates up. He is a player whose game lives around the goal mouth. He bangs home his goals there. He is a big body. When he is doing that he is effective. He is everything he should be which is fine for this team as a 3rd liner.
Also just as absurd as it is to reference 7 assists from a guy who is not a playmaker, is pointing that out when he is a member of what has been an abysmal team with no real snipers on it. So there's that.
First off, I'm happy we can agree he is not a playmaker.
Secondly, as you stated, when he grinds he is effective. He does not forecheck and win battles nearly enough. When I think of grinders I think 20-30 year old Callahan and dubinsky. Prust, Avery to some extent, Fast, Hagelin, prior years Zuccarello, etc. If you consider him a grinder, he is undoubtedly the most passive grinder I have ever watched.
I don't know why you are so defensive of a borderline 13th forward.
He fails every analytical category and every eye test.
Hopefully we can draft tkachuk, and Ranger fans can watch a real grinder.