Mark Madden: West Mifflin's L.J. Mooney is small, yet skilled, and just what the Penguins need

When you’re a 5-foot-7 hockey player, you’re usually too small.

But sometimes you’re Martin St. Louis.

Truth be told, the 5-foot-8 St. Louis had an inch on West Mifflin’s L.J. Mooney, an 18-year-old forward who is eligible to be selected in this weekend’s NHL Draft.

But their situations are similar.

St. Louis’ pro hockey odyssey began with him not getting drafted, led to a Stanley Cup and the Hockey Hall of Fame and currently sees him coaching Montreal.

Mooney’s will likely see him get drafted late, then play collegiately at Minnesota this coming season. After that, it depends on what kind of opportunity he gets.

If Mooney gets a proper chance, he’ll succeed in the NHL. I’m certain of it. I’ve seen him play.

But at Kenny the Kangaroo height and slightly built (157 pounds) on top of it, Mooney’s odds are long. “L.J.” stands for Little Johnny. He’s always known what he’s up against.

An online scouting report says Mooney has “first-round skill and seventh-round physical measurables.” It’s hard to imagine a bigger disparity between ability and size.

But scouting reports also wax rhapsodic about his skating, hands, vision, playmaking, transition and 200-foot game.

Mooney’s commitment certainly isn’t in doubt. Words like “relentless” and “fearless” get tossed around liberally.

But he’s small. Size, size, size. It matters.

Mooney is ranked 206th in this year’s draft by NHL Central Scouting. If he was even 6-foot, he’d be a lock for the first round.

Mooney has skated for USA Hockey’s developmental program since 2023. He had 10 goals and 41 assists in 51 games for their U-18 team this past season. He played for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite youth program prior to that.

He’s got the bloodlines.

His father, John, set the national high school goal-scoring record while playing for Serra Catholic. He played NCAA Division I at Colorado College, minor pro in Johnstown.

His uncle, Tom Mooney, played NCAA Division I at Notre Dame.

His cousin, Logan Cooley, has been excellent during his two NHL seasons with Utah/Arizona.

Two of his sisters, Ireland and Kaley, played college hockey at Miami (Ohio).

One local NHLer who skates with L.J. and Cooley in the summer compared L.J.’s skills favorably with Cooley’s. But added the inevitable, “He might be too small.”

I don’t think so. I believe L.J. can play in the NHL.

That’s where the Pittsburgh Penguins come in.

Right now the Penguins have three picks in the third round, one in the fourth round, two in the fifth round.

The Penguins should draft L.J.

Not because he’s local.

But because he plays like a Penguin. His skill level is what the franchise has been all about since drafting Mario Lemieux in 1984. (Though Mario was 6-4, not 5-7.)

Because L.J.’s upside is amazing. It’s a gamble but a worthwhile gamble. If it pays off, you’ve got a star.

It’s boom or bust. L.J. won’t be a fourth-liner. He’s more likely to get 100 points than play in the bottom six.

Odd note: The Penguins haven’t drafted a Pittsburgh-area player since Upper St. Clair’s Ryan Malone in 1999. That’s meant passing on a lot of good local talent.

In 2011, the Penguins chose Joe Morrow (bum) before John Gibson and Brandon Saad. Then they took Scott Harrington (blah) before Vince Trocheck.

Gibson, Saad and Trocheck have had excellent careers. How can you miss on players that grew up and developed right under your nose?

Don’t do it again. Draft L.J. Mooney.

Wait, here’s a late bulletin …

L.J. is reportedly up to 5-foot-8. Maybe’s he’s still growing. At least he doesn’t have small hands like Kenny Pickett.