John Mooney (F, R, 5’7″, 162, NTDP U18, 03/08/2007, Minnesota)
L.J. Mooney is a highly skilled, dynamic forward with elite-level hands, creativity, and vision who thrives when the puck is on his stick. His offensive brain operates at an NHL pace and he can create scoring chances out of broken plays or controlled possessions with high-end instincts. However, his physical limitations—both in size and in explosive skating—make his NHL projection complex. While he is consistently one of the smartest and most productive players on the puck in junior competition, he will need to prove he can handle contact and maintain pace against physically mature, structured opponents to earn long-term consideration.
Why L.J. Mooney Should Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) Elite Hockey IQ and Puck Skills
Mooney is one of the most cerebral players in the 2025 class. His reads are instantaneous and nearly always correct. His 1.17 completed passes leading to Grade “A” chances per game is elite by any measure, and his 88% pass completion rate on creative, high-difficulty touches speaks to elite spatial awareness and dexterity. His ability to play give-and-go hockey in traffic and manipulate defenders with deception is NHL-caliber right now.
2) Dynamic Puck Control and Touch
He receives pucks cleanly in motion, handles poor passes with ease, and turns difficult plays into clean looks. His agility in the slot—particularly his ability to change direction laterally and roll off pressure—makes him difficult to pin down. He can extend offensive zone shifts, create from the half-wall, and hit seams with backhand or forehand sauce, which makes him a dangerous power play facilitator.
3) Versatility in Usage
While primarily a center by trade, Mooney has shown flashes playing both wings, and can win faceoffs at a 48% rate. He’s also trusted on the power play, where his touch, poise, and lateral movement give his team grade “A” scoring opportunities. Though his penalty kill usage is minimal, he shows excellent awareness and anticipation (3.6 takeaways per game), suggesting that he could be developed into a situational shorthanded player.
4) Low Turnover Risk Despite High Touch Volume
With the puck often on his stick, his giveaway rate (3.6 per game) is equal to his takeaway rate, and well below the threshold you’d expect for a high-skill player. He controls play with pace and purpose, and his decision-making rarely breaks down, even under pressure.
Why L.J. Mooney Should Not Be an NHL Draft Pick
1) Severe Physical Limitations
At 5’7”, 162 lbs, Mooney is well below the threshold for NHL average size. What’s more concerning is that his physical style doesn’t compensate for that deficit. He draws just 0.28 penalties per game, wins only 45% of his puck battles. Against older, stronger opponents (notably NCAA teams), he was consistently separated from the puck and could not gain inside ice.
2) Low Grade “A” Conversion Rate
Mooney creates 1.36 Grade “A” scoring chances per game, but converts on just 8%—a number that ranks well below draft-eligible peers. His shot lacks velocity and release deception. He struggles to one-time pucks and is not a threat from medium danger areas. Without a shooting game, he becomes easy to game plan against at higher levels.
3) Skating Does Not Offset His Size
Most successful undersized NHL players are elite in acceleration, edge control, and pace. Mooney is elusive in tight spaces, but he does not separate at an NHL level. He lacks a true top gear and doesn’t explode out of stops. For a 5’7” forward, this is a major red flag, especially if he wants to generate rush offense at the next level.
4) Perimeter Play Against Better Competition
In high-level viewings (e.g., vs. NCAA and international U18 teams), Mooney became a perimeter-only player. He relied exclusively on his vision, but struggled to impact games when his space was closed. Neutral Zone scouts noted that he “bounced around like a pinball” in board battles and could not sustain puck possession inside the dots, which is crucial to NHL translation.
Projection & NHL Outlook
Projection: Top-six AHL offensive contributor with NHL spot-duty upside. Potential PP2 specialist if he can add enough strength and shot deception to score from the flank.
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.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images