Canadiens Prospect Rankings - The Electric L.J. Mooney

We’ve reached one of the most interesting players in our annual Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings, skilled forward L.J. Mooney.

As a reminder, to qualify for our list, Habs prospects must under 24 years old and have fewer than 75 NHL games under their belt. The rankings are based on the votes from almost 10,000 Canadiens fans.

11. L.J. Mooney, Shoots Right, Centre/Right Wing, USNTDP (USHL), 5’7″, 160 lb. Picked 113th Overall (2025)

Habs fans voted Mooney as the 11th best prospect in the system, though it should be noted he was just a handful of votes away from dislodging the 10th ranked player. Only one prospect picked in 2025 is ahead of Mooney, a testament to his high-end skill set and offensive creativity.

Mooney maintained a point-per-game pace in the USHL, producing five goals and 23 assists in 26 games. He also managed to score 10 goals and 41 assists in 51 games while playing for the U.S. National U18 Team, which faces both USHL and NCAA teams throughout the season.

He often served as his team’s powerplay quarterback, using his excellent agility and puck handling to create passing and shooting lanes in the offensive zone, a lot like Lane Hutson did for Boston University during his two seasons in the NCAA.

Mooney has a laundry-list of preset dangles he uses to gain the offensive zone, showcasing his elite hands and innate hockey skills whenever he leaves his much bigger opponents in the dust. He executes all his plays at top speed, a very encouraging habit for a player who has legitimate NHL aspirations.

Drafting Smaller Players

If Mooney had enjoyed a growth spurt last season, he would have undoubtedly been considered a prospect worthy of a first-round pick. However, given that he only stands at 5’7″, he dropped to the fourth round, and was subsequently available for the Canadiens with the 113th overall pick. While it’s true that his size is far from ideal, it’s also fair to say it was one of the main reasons the Habs managed to draft him so late.

I’d also like to suggest that size doesn’t necessarily matter as much as style of play, a theory known as the Gallagherian Edict.

Mooney plays a very aggressive brand of hockey, and will not hesitate to barrel into the offensive zone while being outnumbered by much bigger opponents. He also lands a surprising amount of heavy hits, owing to his honey badger attitude while on the ice. Of course, he will lose more physical battles than he wins, such is life as a smaller forward.

Potential Montreal Canadiens Impact

In terms of pure talent, I’m not sure the Habs have a more skilled prospect in the system who is not named Ivan Demidov.

His cerebral approach to the game usually leads to an overabundance of second-chance scoring opportunities for his teammates, connoting that playmaking will be the bread and butter of his NHL aspirations.

Mooney will likely have to play in the top six to unlock his true potential, an impressive ceiling for a player picked so late. On the flip side of the coin, he is not suited for a bottom six role, which means the roster opportunities will be somewhat limited once he’s done playing in the NCAA.

What’s Next For Montreal Canadiens Prospect L.J. Mooney

Mooney has committed to playing for the University of Minnesota next season, alongside fellow Canadiens prospect Luke Mittelstadt. It will be the ultimate test of his durability and work ethic, and will help us paint a clearer picture of long-term potential.

While in the NCAA he would do well to focus on his shot, which is underwhelming to say the least. He does generate a ton of rebounds, but his release is nondeceptive, giving goaltenders plenty of time to get set. He could also stand to work on his skating. It’s not a weakness per se, but smaller players usually need better acceleration to flourish in the NHL.

He will have to adapt his decision-making to the lack of time and space in the NCAA, or risk losing the puck with regularity in the offensive zone. In other words, he won’t be allowed to carry the puck with reckless abandon as he did at times while facing USHL teams.

He should feature on Team USA’s World Junior Championship lineup, where he is expected to help the team in their bid to win a third consecutive gold medal.

Previously Published 2025 Montreal Canadiens Prospect Articles:

Canadiens Prospect Rankings: Introduction, 2024 Retrospective

Canadiens Prospect Rankings: The Departed And Traded

Canadiens Prospect Rankings: The Honourable Mentions

Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.20 – Filip Mesar

Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.19 – Luke Tuch

Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.18 – Aatos Koivu

Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.17 – Sean Farrell

Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.16 – Vinzenz Rohrer

Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.15 – Jared Davidson

Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.14 – Bogdan Konyushkov

Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.13 – Hayden Paupanekis