I wouldn't call it thriving in WD's system he was often deployed with the Sedins who rarly took a defensive shift. We have seen Byron Bitz, Cowan the Brabarian, Hansen, Burrows, Carter, the list goes on turned from grinders into goal scorers playing with 2 of the best passers to ever lace em up.
I can recall at least 5 goals he had wide open net tap ins and multiple more he missed.