At No. 8 in our fan-voted Montreal Canadiens top-20 prospects rankings is one of the most talented players in the organization: L.J. Mooney.
N.B.: To qualify for the project, prospects must be 23 years old or younger and currently playing outside the NHL. In other words, even though Canadiens players such as Lane Hutson, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Ivan Demidov are young enough to qualify, they’ve already established themselves as NHL players and are no longer considered prospects.
Previously Published Montreal Canadiens Prospect Rankings
Canadiens Prospects Who Just Missed the Cut
Canadiens Prospects Ranked 20-16
Canadiens Prospects Ranked 15-11
No.10 – Towering Hayden Paupanekis
No. 9 – Truculent Florian Xhekaj
L.J. Mooney
8. LW/RW, Shoots Right, 18, University of Minnesota (NCAA), 5’8″, 165 lb. Picked 113th overall in 2025.
The Canadiens have prioritized selecting players with big frames in recent drafts, but they weren’t about to ignore Mooney when he was available in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Standing at 5’8″, Mooney is far from a towering figure, and while there’s no doubt his diminutive frame will be a concern moving forward, he’s also overflowing with skill, making him one of the most interesting prospects in the system.
After a very solid 2024-25 season in the USNTDP, which saw Mooney maintain a point-per-game pace, he made his way to the NCAA, where the true test began.
That’s not to say we should ignore his production with the National Team Development Program, but playing versus much older opponents in the NCAA represents a considerable challenge for all young prospects, particularly those who have a hard time reaching the top shelf in the kitchen.
And while Mooney had a relatively slow start to the year with the University of Minnesota, with just two goals and three assists in 11 games, he eventually found his rhythm, enjoying a significant uptick in production.
Mooney has registered four goals and 17 assists in the last 18 games of the season, a sign that he’s coming into his own despite a lack of NCAA experience.
For the most part, he has played on either the left or right wing, alongside players such as Erik Pahlsson, Brody Lamb, and Brodie Ziemer, in the top six. He’s also used on the powerplay, where he’s scored three of his six goals this season.
It’s important to remember that Mooney is just 18 years old, and while it’s not uncommon to see an 18-year-old first-round pick produce at an impressive rate in the NCAA, the same cannot be said for players picked in later rounds. It’s quite rare, making Mooney’s freshman year a success for all intents and purposes.
Strengths
Talent.
Talent.
Talent.
And did I mention, talent?
Few NCAA players can match the skill level featured by Mooney on a nightly basis.
He can create something out of nothing, using his anticipation, puck handling, and elite offensive instincts to carve out precious ice in the opposing zone, which often leads to highlight-reel plays.
With that in mind, Mooney clearly projects as a playmaker, preferring to defer to his teammates once he creates time and space for them off the rush. He’s also quite adept at identifying good passing lanes while on the powerplay, much like what we see from Lane Hutson or Ivan Demidov in Montreal.
Mooney loves executing plays at full speed, which is much more important than simply being able to skate fast. Don’t get me wrong, Mooney is an excellent skater with good speed, but the difference between a decent player and a potential NHLer is their ability to generate chances without hitting the brakes.
He also does not shy away from the rough stuff, despite being one of the smallest players on the ice. He has shown great tenacity and determination whenever he’s facing a much bigger opponent.
Weaknesses
While Mooney punches above his weight in physical altercations, there’s no denying he will have to add some muscle to his frame.
It’s very similar to when the Montreal Canadiens picked Cole Caufield in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. At the time, Caufield weighed roughly 160 lb, and though he was supremely talented, it was clear he would have to hit the gym to survive in the NHL. Since then, Caufield has packed on about 15 lb of muscle, and you’d be hard-pressed to argue his size has held him back. In fact, Caufield has become of the best goalscorers in the NHL.
The biggest red flag in Mooney’s game is his penchant for perimeter play. He prefers to stay on the outside, which mitigates his ability to generate chances. He will, on occasion, use his impressive skill set to deke several players, and make his way to a high-danger scoring area, but it’s not the type of play that would easily translate to the professional level.
Some have suggested that he won’t be able to survive in the pros, as evidenced by a hit in a recent game that placed Mooney in the infirmary for a stretch, but he’s far from the first player who picked up a knock after a big hit. Much taller and stronger players have suffered the same fate, making it a somewhat unreasonable criticism.
Here was LJ Mooney’s last shift against Ohio State tonight. James Hong kind of catches him in front of the Buckeyes bench and Mooney didn’t return to game for the #Gophers. pic.twitter.com/aBYGbw2ysV
— Eric Vegoe (@evegoe) February 8, 2026
What To Expect From Mooney Moving Forward
Mooney has essentially already emerged as the University Of Minnesota’s best player, a great sign when evaluating his long-term potential.
That being said, he’s not particularly well suited to a bottom-six role, which limits some of the opportunities he’ll have in the AHL and NHL. This suggests the best path forward may involve staying in the NCAA for three or four years, giving him an opportunity to hone his skill set while working on the intricate details that are crucial for playing in a professional league.
Once he’s ready to make the biggest jump in his career, a top-six role in the AHL is likely in order, to give him an opportunity to adapt to the lack of time and space compared to the NCAA.
But all things considered, the mere fact that we’re discussing NHL potential for a player who was picked in the fourth round is the epitome of encouraging.
All Montreal Canadiens prospect statistics via Elite Prospects.
