LJ Mooney has put on quite a bit of weight (and that’s a good thing)

Félix Forget
LJ Mooney has put on quite a bit of weight (and that’s a good thing)
Credit: Capture d'écran/Twitter

In 2025, the Canadiens drafted LJ Mooney in the fourth round. That pick caused quite a stir because Mooney, in terms of raw talent, was one of the top prospects in that draft class.

But in the end, he slipped all the way to the 113th overall pick… because he isn't the tallest or the biggest.

The Habs, in fact, have had a knack for selecting players like this in recent years. Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson have established themselves as key pieces of the team's core… and Mooney, even though he's still a long way from that level, is working hard to achieve his goals.

The kid, who had success at summer camp ahead of the World Junior Championship, worked hard in the gym this summer. And now, the results are starting to show: as Scott Wheeler notes in an article for The Athletic, Mooney now weighs 175 pounds, according to USA Hockey.

Last year, his listed weight was 165 pounds—so he's gained roughly ten pounds.

We know that Mooney, despite his small stature (5 feet 8 inches) and his great talent, isn't afraid to play with grit. He's willing to get his hands dirty to help his team win games.

And that's exactly why seeing him bulk up is a very, very good thing.

It's worth noting that Mooney, since the start of the summer (and as he does every summer), has been training extensively with Logan Cooley. The two are cousins, and in Wheeler's post, Mooney's father reveals that his son is working very hard to follow in his cousin's footsteps.

We don't expect him to become as good as Cooley, but it's a great source of motivation for the kid, who scored 30 points in 34 NCAA games last year. And if he continues to develop well, maybe he'll get the chance to play for the Habs and face off against Cooley one day.


Quick Thoughts

– What do you think?

– Major trade in MLB.

– That's right.

facebook icon Share twitter icon Tweet linkedin icon Share
Copied!