[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 23):

RW LJ Mooney (5'6",146lbs)
NTDP: 21gp/ 1g/ 13a/ 14pts, -7, 9 PIM

LJ Mooney is a spark plug who, like most of his teammates, is toiling for a very weak edition of the NTDP, and also like most of his teammates, his production is nowhere near where it should be. In 2023-24, Mooney put up 20 points in 20 games for the NTDP, but his points-per game has actually regressed this season, and his goal-scoring has dried up considerably. I became familiar with Mooney during his time with Team USA at the 2024 U-18 Tournament, where he was one of 4 players on the team young enough to be in the 2025 draft class, and he finished 2nd in that quartet as well as tied for 8th-overall for the Americans with 6 points in 7 games. Mooney is tiny, but he has the power to intimidate and force defenders back with his speed, and he's highly elusive and shifty, making it very difficult to catch him. He's a high-end skater, one of the best in this draft class, with explosiveness and the ability to separate from checkers in open ice; he can go end to end with the biscuit at times without barely getting touched. His edges are fantastic, and he can execute stops and changes of pace and direction on a dime. Though he is light on his feet, his low center of gravity makes him hard to knock off stride.

Despite his lack of size, he gets involved in battles, although his slight frame limits his effectiveness; apparently, nobody told him that he's 5'6". He will throw hits to dislodge pucks, and gets to the inside consistently. Mooney plays with high-energy and boundless motor, and is seemingly everywhere all at once- he's quite fun to watch. He seems focused and engaged every shift, showing intensity and compete, and can control the pace of the game utilizing his quickness as well as his hands- which are fast enough to keep up with his feet. His stickhandling and puck-control are well-developed, with the ability to dangle around defenders, and he possesses a 1-on-1 deception arsenal that allows him to challenge opponents all over the ice. Off the rush, all of the above attributes give him the capacity to manufacture time and space for himself and his teammates, and this is where he might be at his most creative. Mooney is a huge (pun intended) pest on the forecheck and does a lot of damage around the net, generating chances off of short dishes, low-to-high plays, and cross-crease passes. He will also float around the crease looking to pounce on rebounds and loose pucks. Exceptional vision and passing skill are his best weapons, with the means to thread the needle through small areas and find teammates in traffic, making use of his sharp playmaking instincts and creativity. Off the puck, he displays intelligence on both sides of the ice, and knows where to be to best support the play, create space, and be available for the pass. With only 1 tally this season, his goal-scoring has inexplicably fallen off a cliff, but he's not a big (again, pun intended) goal-scoring threat anyway, as his shot lacks power. Mooney is considered to be an excellent defensive contributor with exemplary positioning and superior angling, who hounds puck-carriers relentlessly to take away time and space, as well as cause turnovers and make stops. His awareness in his own-zone is high, and he will cover for displaced defensemen and support them down low.

Though Mooney's numbers are significantly lower than where they should be, I don't think they are a true representation of his capabilities. I'm at a loss to explain what's going on with the NTDP this year, as most of their lineup has come up short of their individual expectations, and Mooney is most likely another victim of playing for a weak NTDP team. That said, I think Mooney is in tough to be drafted this year, nevermind make it to the NHL in any capacity- he's just too small. It's not fair, as he's quite talented and sometimes electrifying to watch, but it's the sad reality. If a team takes a chance on him, it will most likely be at the expense of a late-round pick. Mooney has committed to the University of Minnesota for the 2026-27 season.