Hometown kid could be a steal for an NHL team
Welcome back to our feature on draft profiles for projected top picks in the upcoming 2025 NHL draft. Catch up with the previous ones here:
No 1: Matthew Schaefer
No 2: Michael Misa
No. 3: Porter Martone
No. 4: Anton Frondell
No. 5: James Hagens
No. 6: Caleb Desnoyers
No. 7: Jake O’Brien
No. 8: Roger McQueen
No. 9: Victor Eklund
No. 10: Jackson Smith
No. 11: Radim Mrtka
No. 12: Brady Martin
No. 13: Carter Bear
No. 14 Kashawn Aitcheson
No. 15: Logan Hensler
No. 16: Lynden Lakovic
Now that we’ve made it through the top-16 profiles of a list constructed by a consensus of scouting voices that talked to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, a little fun to profile players of our choosing.
And we’ll start with the hometown kid, LJ Mooney. Cousin of Logan Cooley, a handful of years ago many considered LJ the top player in the family with his talent level.
The West Mifflin native, Mooney has been a leader of on U-18 national team in assists this year, second in points/game, and he also did pretty well in 2023-24 playing up a year with the 2006 birthdays (23 points in 32 games).
What once looked like a sure-fire future first round pick has led up to draft day with Mooney being ranked 206th by Central Scouting among just the North American players (ouch).
Why?
Size concerns. Mooney stands 5’7” and weighs about 160 pounds. While smaller players can thrive at the pro level, Mooney stands the risks of all tiny players of getting lost in the wash as he levels up against much bigger and much stronger opponents.
These days, however, smaller players have blazed a trail that shows a path for Mooney to find success. Cole Caufield scored 37 goals this season, Alex Debrincat regularly puts up 70+ points per season. Mooney doesn’t have Caufield’s shot, but he does bring a dynamic toolset of offensive ability.
Projection is all over the map. Some, like the CSB scouts, don’t see it coming together for Mooney in the pros. Other scouts rank him much higher, given that his skills and ceiling make for a potential option.
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They said it
The Athletic (Corey Pronman) #102
Mooney is an elite skating forward who buzzes around the ice. His top speed and edge work are clearly NHL caliber. He has a very good skill level and is very dangerous attacking off the rush due to his skill/speed combination. He was a highly touted player for years, but he just never grew. He’s barely 5-foot-7 and was injury-prone this year, which didn’t help his case. He competes hard enough and doesn’t shy away from physical play. In his best games, he looks like he has a legit chance to play NHL games despite his frame, but that player showed up inconsistently this season.
Draft Grade: 6th–7th Round
Draft Justification:L.J. Mooney has first-round skill and seventh-round physical measurables. If his skating, shot, or strength make a significant leap in the next 18 months, he becomes a fascinating home run style pick. But if they don’t, the risk is real that his game doesn’t translate beyond the college level. For that reason, he profiles as a high-reward, low-floor late-round selection for teams with time to invest in high-skill, long-term projects. Draftable in the later rounds by a skill-forward organization with a development infrastructure committed to maximizing finesse players. NHL upside exists, but will depend entirely on physical growth and skating progression.
The Athletic (Scott Wheeler) #38
Because of the injury, he lost some of his runway to show teams that he’s got what it takes. He has always been a top player in his age group (if you put him in an All-Star game of this draft class right now, he might stand out and make his linemates better). But can he be what he is against teenagers against pros someday, especially if he doesn’t get an inch or two and struggles to add weight to the skinny frame that he does have?
I love the player. He’s got lightning-quick hands in traffic/one-on-one, quick feet, a quick release, a quick processing of the game and a unique ability to make plays. That combination of skating ability (he’s got natural acceleration and tremendous edges and can put defenders on their heels from a standstill and spin off them with ease) and skill is complemented by a willing work ethic and attention to detail defensively. He supports play well. He positions himself well off the puck. He doesn’t cheat for offense. He plays with determination and takes a ton of pucks to the guts of the offensive zone and even the front of the net, with a desire to get to the middle consistently. He’s crafty and knows how to play to his strengths and put pucks into space for others. He’ll flash skill off the rush and inside the offensive zone with his maneuverability. There are times when he’s deferential (in part because of his size) but his quickness helps him manage his deficiencies to be a very well-rounded player. He can also flat out make guys miss and can put them in the spin cycle, his edges are elite slipping through holes, he wins his fair share of battles, and I’ve seen him bowl over bigger players.
A lot would have to go right for him to play in the NHL someday but I’d be willing to take him in the middle rounds and he reminds me a little of Hurricanes prospect Justin Robidas, a small center with speed and two-way knowhow who was drafted in the fifth round in 2021 and had an excellent rookie season in the AHL for the Wolves and will probably play NHL games at some point. He’s more dynamic than Robidas, too.
Man, I love Mooney. He was one of USA’s top players at the U-18 World Championship in what had otherwise been a difficult season for the USNTDP. As one of the smallest players in this draft class, Mooney has had to work even harder to make sure he gets noticed. Between his playmaking and skating on display, Mooney was one of USA’s top forwards every time he hit the ice. I love how he exploits open ice and he’s got the quick hands to make both great passes and great shots. I think he gets drafted regardless because his skill is undeniable, but at 5-foot-7, he’ll likely be taken later than he should.
EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide
Mooney is – in a word – dynamic. He attacks at a breakneck speed, combining quick-twitch handling with even quicker feet. If the defence doesn’t back off, he powers right through it, occasionally in highlight-reel fashion. More playmaker than shooter, he looks for teammates across the slot, at the net front, and occasionally deceives the defence to secure the lane. –
Scouching #42
I’m still so upset at the injury L.J. Mooney was handed earlier this year. Just when I thought he was finding his legs and confidence, he explodes and misses a length of time with a knee injury. I saw the first couple games he played on the mend and he just did not look the same whatsoever and my hopes of him being a favorite in the class were somewhat dashed. Since January 1, Mooney has landed 18 points in 16 games and my last few games have been a huge step up from early in the season. Mooney is incredibly exciting, hard-working and dynamic and the last handful of performances I’ve seen have been a ton of fun. Surprising to many, he’s one of the most physically involved players in the whole draft class, being relentless with applying pressure all over the ice and doing whatever he can to outperform the questions he faces about his size. He’s still very much a complimentary offensive player, but one heck of an exciting option at that. His quickness, agility, skill level, and playmaking creativity is simply wonderful, and he has the work rate to do his best to overcome his size limitations. He’s another player who I think people will overcorrect on and let fall in the draft, and while he’s a longshot to be an NHL player, if he hits, he’s going to be awesome. His style of play requires near perfect execution and constant effort, but I just can’t not believe in the guy.
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If the Pens want Mooney, they have to play the game in the draft for when it makes sense to draft him. 11th is not in the conversation. Pittsburgh’s second round pick at 59 might be a step too early as well. However, the Pens have compiled three third round picks (at 73, 84 and 85 overall) — does it make sense to take a reach on a very small but potentially home run type of pick there? The Pens do have a fourth round pick (105) and a couple in the fifth round, but if they don’t prioritize Mooney they risk someone jumping in line to take him. Kyle Dubas hasn’t been shy about drafting this type of player — he took Nick Robertson 53rd overall in 2019, Ty Voit 151st in 2021 and Mac Swanson last year at 207. Given some of Mooney’s rankings, he might be shading closer to Robertson as a mid-round pick rather than a late-rounder like the latter two.
There’s only so many players with enough skill to be considered in the classic “high risk but some high ceiling” category. Mooney is one of them, but the matter of how much priority to place on what could be a whiff will be a fascinating storyline in the second day of the NHL draft.