{"id":464312,"date":"2026-02-20T07:11:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T07:11:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/464312\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T07:11:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T07:11:16","slug":"canadiens-top-20-prospects-no-8-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/464312\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadiens Top 20 Prospects: No.8"},"content":{"rendered":"

At No. 8 in our fan-voted Montreal Canadiens<\/a> top-20 prospects rankings is one of the most talented players in the organization: L.J. Mooney.<\/p>\n

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\u2019ve already established themselves as NHL players and are no longer considered prospects.<\/p>\n

Previously Published Montreal Canadiens Prospect Rankings<\/p>\n

Canadiens Prospects Who Just Missed the Cut<\/a><\/p>\n

Canadiens Prospects Ranked 20-16<\/a><\/p>\n

Canadiens Prospects Ranked 15-11<\/a><\/p>\n

No.10 \u2013 Towering Hayden Paupanekis<\/a><\/p>\n

No. 9 \u2013 Truculent Florian Xhekaj<\/a><\/p>\n

L.J. Mooney<\/p>\n

8. LW\/RW, Shoots Right, 18, University of Minnesota (NCAA), 5\u20198\u2033, 165 lb. Picked 113th overall in 2025.<\/p>\n

The Canadiens have prioritized selecting players with big frames in recent drafts, but they weren\u2019t about to ignore Mooney when he was available in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.<\/p>\n

Standing at 5\u20198\u2033, Mooney is far from a towering figure, and while there\u2019s no doubt his diminutive frame will be a concern moving forward, he\u2019s also overflowing with skill, making him one of the most interesting prospects in the system. <\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Mooney has registered four goals and 17 assists in the last 18 games of the season, a sign that he\u2019s coming into his own despite a lack of NCAA experience.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s also used on the powerplay, where he\u2019s scored three of his six goals this season.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to remember that Mooney is just 18 years old, and while it\u2019s 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\u2019s quite rare, making Mooney\u2019s freshman year a success for all intents and purposes.<\/p>\n

Strengths<\/p>\n

Talent.<\/p>\n

Talent.<\/p>\n

Talent.<\/p>\n

And did I mention, talent? <\/p>\n

Few NCAA players can match the skill level featured by Mooney on a nightly basis.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s also quite adept at identifying good passing lanes while on the powerplay, much like what we see from Lane Hutson<\/a> or Ivan Demidov<\/a> in Montreal.<\/p>\n

Mooney loves executing plays at full speed, which is much more important than simply being able to skate fast. Don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s facing a much bigger opponent.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Weaknesses<\/p>\n

While Mooney punches above his weight in physical altercations, there\u2019s no denying he will have to add some muscle to his frame. <\/p>\n

It\u2019s 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\u2019d be hard-pressed to argue his size has held him back. In fact, Caufield has become of the best goalscorers in the NHL.<\/p>\n

The biggest red flag in Mooney\u2019s 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\u2019s not the type of play that would easily translate to the professional level. <\/p>\n

Some have suggested that he won\u2019t 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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n

Here was LJ Mooney\u2019s last shift against Ohio State tonight. James Hong kind of catches him in front of the Buckeyes bench and Mooney didn\u2019t return to game for the #Gophers<\/a>. pic.twitter.com\/aBYGbw2ysV<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Eric Vegoe (@evegoe) February 8, 2026<\/a> <\/p>\n

What To Expect From Mooney Moving Forward<\/p>\n

Mooney has essentially already emerged as the University Of Minnesota\u2019s best player, a great sign when evaluating his long-term potential.<\/p>\n

That being said, he\u2019s not particularly well suited to a bottom-six role, which limits some of the opportunities he\u2019ll 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.<\/p>\n

Once he\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n

But all things considered, the mere fact that we\u2019re discussing NHL potential for a player who was picked in the fourth round is the epitome of encouraging. <\/p>\n

All Montreal Canadiens prospect statistics via Elite Prospects<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\t\tMarc has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for Journal Metro, The Athletic, The … More about Marc Dumont<\/a><\/p>\n

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