Montreal Canadiens May Have Found a Hidden Gem in Fourth-Round Pick LJ Mooney

Somehow, even though the Montreal Canadiens did not have any first-round picks in this year's NHL Draft, they still managed to find players who look to be diamonds in the rough. The Canadiens' second-round pick, Alexander Zharovsky, will garner most of the attention, especially after the team confirmed that they would have taken him if they still had their first-round pick. However, there is a later round pick that Canadiens fans should be keeping an eye on for the next couple of years.

John Mooney, known as LJ (Little John), was the Canadiens' fourth-round pick in this past draft. On talent alone, Mooney could have gone earlier in the draft, but his size became a topic of discussion on whether he would be able to excel at the NHL level. Mooney sits at 5'7" and 157 pounds, but is as dynamic and talented as any player taken before him. He has an unlimited gas tank, which complements his speed perfectly. Combine that with his quick hands, and it makes him a real threat when breaking into the opponent's defensive zone.

Mooney played this past season with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) and was one of the more fun players to watch on the ice. Despite dealing with injuries, he still managed to finish sixth on the team in points with 51. Mooney has already committed to playing in the NCAA next season for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He will be joining a Golden Gophers program renowned for its NHL pipeline, which includes names like Phil Kessel, Thomas Vanek, Blake Wheeler, and Mooney's cousin, Logan Cooley.

Mooney brings a Gallagher-like tenacity, paired with quicker feet and better hands. He has the speed to blow past defenders or lull them to sleep with his hands, and despite his small frame, he is not afraid to dump the puck in and go battle for it in the corners. Mooney will not light up the goal column, but his playmaking abilities are evident, leading the USNTDP in assists with 41.

His size will make it difficult for him to make the NHL, but that does not mean it will be impossible. If anything, the Canadiens might be the perfect team for him. Gallagher himself, a former fifth-round pick, was knocked for his size, but proved many doubters wrong and has had himself a long NHL career. Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis was also overlooked due to his size, going undrafted, but that did not stop him from carving out a Hall of Fame career.

Mooney will have every opportunity to prove he can play at the NHL level, all while developing in an environment that will help him learn to use his size to his advantage. Who knows, we may look back at Mooney in a couple of years and say, "How in the world did he fall to the fourth round?"