2015 Top 100 NHL Prospects in the NCAA: #71-80

This is the third installment of our series counting down the top 100 NHL prospects playing in the NCAA this season.

Here are the previous entries on the list:

#91-100

#81-90

71. Anthony Florentino, Defense, Providence (Buffalo Sabres)

Like most of his Friar teammates, the sophomore has had a few bumps in the road this season, but for the most part has been very solid. He works the point on the second power play unit and has a rocket of a slap shot, but the best part of his game is his physical presence in the defensive zone. He's a rugged blue liner who makes sure opposing forwards have their heads on a swivel when entering the zone. If there is one knock it is that he sometimes over-commits and gets a little too aggressive. His +11 is second best among Friar defensemen.

72. MacKenzie MacEachern, Forward, Michigan State (St. Louis Blues)

When MacEachern was drafted in the third round by the Blues in 2012 out of the Michigan high school hockey ranks, he more an intriguing set of attributes--tall, quick hands, scoring touch-- than a complete hockey. He's still not all the way there yet, but he continues to show upward growth as he gets stronger and adjusts to the faster level of competition. The flashes of the player that he could be are starting to show more and more often, especially in the second half of this season.

73. Jake Walman, Defense, Providence (St. Louis Blues)

The Toronto native has quarterbacked the top power play unit for Nate Leaman's squad. There have been times this season where he has played like a freshman, but his skating, his ability to break the puck out of the defensive zone and start the breakout has been phenomenal. Sometimes he seems to be a little too confident in his abilities and makes risky plays. Once he simplifies his game and learns to reel things in a little, he'll be better in all three zones.

74. Ben Hutton, Defense, Maine (Vancouver Canucks)

Hutton's -10 plus/minus is alarming and he certainly has regressed in his junior season, but there are still positive attributes to his game. He skates well and makes good zone exits, but sometimes presses a little too much.  He's got an accurate shot, does a nice job getting shots on net and does a good job on the power play. This season has been a struggle for the whole team, but he fell in the rankings due to his shortcomings in the defensive zone. Another season in Orono would help Hutton before bolting to the AHL, but he could leave early.

75. Connor Clifton, Defense, Quinnipiac (Arizona Coyotes)

Clifton's offensive numbers have dipped a bit in his sophomore campaign, but Clifton has added some more muscle and become a much more effective overall defenseman. He's excellent between the red line and his own blue line, both breaking the puck out of the zone and defending the blueline against the opposition's rush.

76. Jamie Phillips, Goalie, Michigan Tech (Winnipeg Jets)

After playing sparingly and with inconsistent results in his first two seasons at Michigan Tech, Phillips has had an absolute breakout year this year for the Huskies, thanks in part to a new goaltending coach. He's finally starting to take the physical tools that convinced the Jets to take a chance on him in the draft, and translate them into success on the ice.

77. Jack Dougherty, Defense, Wisconsin (Nashville Predators)

(photo by Patrick Barron)

Dougherty just missed out on making this year's US World Juniors team, putting him in a good position to make the team next season. Dougherty's combination of size and puckhandling ability makes him a very versatile prospect. It's been a bit of a tough adjustment to the college hockey game this season, especially on a Wisconsin team that has been bad this year. But as Dougherty matures along with the rest of his team, he should develop into a reliable, talented all-around player.

78. Nick Saracino, Forward, Providence (Free Agent)

The St. Louis, Mo. native leads the Friars in scoring and has used his speed to his advantage. He does a good job of creating open space for himself by his separation ability and is gritty. He plays bigger than his size due to the nature of his game. He's been a very important piece for PC this season. When he registers a point, the Friars are 12-5-2 as opposed to 7-6-0 when he's held scoreless.

79. Taylor Cammarata, Forward, Minnesota (New York Islanders)

(photo by Matt Christians)

Cammarata is one of the best passers in college hockey. But his small stature and lack of elite skating ability have relegated him to being a relatively one dimensional player. Even his goal-scoring has gone way down this year compared to his freshman season. But Cammarata will always make his teammates around him better by getting them the puck, and will always find a way to put up nice point totals.

80. Dylan Margonari, Forward, Minnesota State (Free Agent)

(photo by Matt Christians)

Margonari has been plagued by injuries throughout his junior year, but when he's healthy, he's an incredibly effective center. Margonari wins a lot of puck battles and makes a lot of good defensive plays with his combination of size and speed. He's not as strong with the puck on his stick so he won't create much offense on his own, but he contributes offensively by being great at retrieving loose pucks, helping maintain possession, and using his speed to score goals.