Projection: Bottom Four Shut Down

Tools: Defensive Engagement, Long Reach, Mobility

Development Opportunities: Play Under Pressure, Passing Precision

Tait is another one of these long reaching defenders who brings a lot on the defensive side of the puck. He covers ice well in his 6'1 frame, using his skating to close down space and maintain strong gaps. Jonathan is eager to apply pressure, typically showing an aggressive defensive mindset to win pucks back early in his opponent's possessions. It all makes for a solid set of tools that is easy to project as a defensive leaning presence on an OHL blue line down the road.

The big key moving forward is fine-tuning the passing game to be a more reliable puck-moving presence. When faced with pressure Tait can rush his decisions, and being a bit more patient while incorporating more scans to spot forecheckers will help him when he has even less time and space at the higher levels. The physical tools and defensive engagement are there, and add in more puck-moving value and you could have a really solid piece.

I thought Tait’s involvement all over the ice was the key in this one. He was disruptive in the defensive zone, showcasing a knack for breaking up plays and winning battles in the corners. He always seemed to want to engage, apply pressure, and try to break plays down. In the other direction, I was impressed by a similar theme of involvement, as he was frequently looking to creep in the offensive zone and try to get in on the offensive. The physical frame and long, fluid stride were once again apparent, showcasing the physical attributes that make him a notable prospect in this year’s class.

Tait stood out for his blend of smooth skating and composure. Tait consistently managed pressure well, making smart decisions to control play out of the back-end, and was the key to plenty of their successful breakouts. His mobility was at the core of a lot of his success, helping him both to retrieve pucks and skirt forecheckers, but also as a defensive tool to shut down rushes and take away space. Almost every shift he was noticeable, being that calming presence on the Senators blueline and always impacting the play positively. I’ll have no shortage of views on the powerhouse Senators this year and I look forward to diving deeper into Johnathan’s game after a solid first impression.