You guys made up your mind on him when he was resigned and touted as a No 1 C with MaxPac and Gallager/Cole if I remember it correctly. Which to a large extent was understandable. That doesn't turn him into a worthless player.
Its too early to speculate on lines, but I am not at all that sure that a line with say Vesey-Desharnais-Fast will be that worthless. DD is a really tenacious forechecker and player in general, also moves the puck well. So is Fast, and Fast is also decently strong on the puck and also is really smart with it and good at keeping it within the team. A guy like Vesey is strong and good with the puck, good size. I think that is a line that would have some great looks for example.
In EDM he was brought in to make a 3rd line, wasn't a great option. I think he will be OK on our 4th line with the support he will get, and our 4th won't play as a checking line anyway. Last year it was a skill line with Buch and Pirri on it for long stretches for example, so claiming that is too bad for a 1-2 line and worthless on a 3rd-4th is not really in line with how AV matches his team.
He is also a french Canadian
, so there is absolutely zero risk that AV will not make him a favorite and at least sneak him in on opening night.