Kent Hughes and the Canadiens may have landed a gem up front: ‘He reminds me of Stankoven’
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Here’s another interesting acquisition by Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens and one worth taking a closer look at.
We’re talking about young LJ Mooney, who has really been turning heads this summer, including that of his own coach with the U.S. National Team Development Program, who just added even more fuel to the hype.
Nick Fohr coaches him within the United States National Team Development Program.
His comments leave very little room for doubt.
“He’s such a shifty little player, and he works extremely hard, and he’s dialed in to doing the right things over and over and over again. His elusiveness and his ability to change direction is elite,” the coach said.
How many coaches use the word elite when talking about one of their own players?
That kind of statement carries a lot more weight than a compliment coming from just any analyst.
Mooney trains every summer with his cousin Logan Cooley, and it’s safe to say his ambitions are clear.L.J. Mooney draws Logan Stankoven comparisons as Canadiens prospect hype grows
The comparison that keeps coming up everywhere is Logan Stankoven.
Small frame, a motor that never stops, and a hockey IQ that makes up for his size. There’s a lot to like.
What Fohr points out, Mooney’s ability to change direction, is exactly the kind of weapon that helps a smaller player hold his own as the competition gets bigger and stronger.
Not everyone was buying into the hype last year, though. Simon Boisvert wanted to temper expectations.
“Comparing L.J. Mooney to Logan Stankoven? Yes… but only to a certain extent,” he said.
The Canadiens may have a very special undersized player on their hands.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics