Yes but a grinder was not what we drafted him to be. Great that it is part of his repertoire now along with the skill, but as a grinder last season he looked like he could be an effective 3rd line defensive forward. Hardly what any of us envisioned for him. This is the first season you can truly feel excited about his potential.
Everyone needs to be able to grind in this NHL. You have to dig the puck out of corners and continue the cycle when it's your turn. There's a very big difference today between a high skill perimeter player and a high skill player who can grind. Personally I believe it's part of the evolution of modern players which is why AHL time is not a bad idea for high OV draft picks. Allow them to keep high rates of production, play against older players, gain some of the skills needed, mentoring...
You're spot on though, this year is more than just flashes. We have games where he looks like he's doing more than just carrying his weight... He's making a difference.