Who's the best young defenseman?

There's something about playing defense in hockey that makes it so appealing.

Maybe it's the two-way responsibilities -- on-ice multitasking, if you will -- of defending your zone while looking for that perfect outlet pass. Then again, it could be the physicality of the position, from doling out thunderous checks to sacrificing one's body to block a shot.

Another aspect is the inherent leadership that comes with bearing such responsibility. Some of the best captains in recent history -- Anaheim's Scott Niedermayer, Boston's Ray Bourque and New Jersey's Scott Stevens all come to mind -- were defensemen.

While forwards are paid to put pucks in the net, and goalies are compensated to repel them, NHL defenseman live in a transitional world: defense one second, offense a heartbeat later.

These five defensemen, all under the age of 25 (based on the NHL's Oct. 3 opening night), offer the best examples of how the position is played today. Don't be surprised, too, by the lineup:

No. 5: Matt Carle
San Jose Sharks
23 years old (09.25.84)
Drafted 47th overall in 2003
The skinny: The former Hobey Baker Award winner easily made the jump from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association to the NHL. Need proof? How about 11 goals, 31 assists and a plus-1 in his rookie campaign. Sure, a quick midseason trip to Worcester may have been humbling, but he'll be better off in the long run. San Jose teammate Marc-Edouard Vlasic is pretty talented, too, but Carle offers a better all-around game.
Last season's ranking: n/a

No. 4: Shea Weber
Nashville Predators
22 years old (08.14.85)
Drafted 49th overall in 2003
The skinny: Part of Nashville's solid young corps of defensemen (with Dan Hamhuis, Hound Central's No. 3 last season; and Ryan Suter), this kid has a pretty solid future in front of him. In just his second season, Weber is the Predators' top D-man. I wouldn't be surprised, either, to see him improve upon last season's 40-point (17 goals and 23 assists) and plus-13 effort.
Last season's ranking: n/a

No. 3: Jay Bouwmeester
Florida Panthers
24 years old (09.27.83)
Drafted third overall in 2002
The skinny: It's not so much that Jay-Bo took a step back last year, when he was Hound Central's best young defenseman, that led to this season's lower rating. Any GM or fan should be happy with his posting of solid offensive numbers (12 goals among 42 points) and an impressive plus-23 for an out-of-the-playoffs Panthers. No, the slippage (and I hate to call it that) comes about because of the NHL's deep talent pool. Either way, Bouwmeester remains a fixture.
Last season's ranking: No. 1

No. 2: Dion Phaneuf
Calgary Flames
22 years old (04.10.85)
Drafted ninth overall in 2003
The skinny: What else can you say about this guy? Phaneuf puts up the points (17+33=50), plays a solid defense (a plus-10) and causes nightmares for any opponent foolish enough to enter Calgary's defensive zone with his head down. Of the games I look forward to seeing this season, the Flames' trip to Tampa Bay sits at the top of the list. Watching Phaneuf play, and hopefully getting an autograph or two (or three), are two of the reasons why.
Last season's ranking: No. 2

No. 1: Ryan Whitney
Pittsburgh Penguins
24 years old (02.19.83)
Drafted fifth overall in 2002
The skinny: When you're part of a squad that includes such notables as Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal and Marc-Andre Fleury, it's pretty easy to get overlooked. Whitney, however, makes sure you notice, potting 14 goals among his 59 points and logging a plus-9. Is his presence atop this year's list a fluke? I doubt it. Pittsburgh's got a ton of talent and Whitney is a major part of it. Besides, he's just that good and will be, I believe, for a long time.
Last season's ranking: n/a

Ones to watch

Keep an eye on these six players, listed in alphabetical order, as they're destined for this list in the years ahead:

~ Luc Bourdon, Vancouver Canucks
20 years old (02.16.87) /10th overall in 2005 Draft
The skinny: It's hard to put a finger on what exactly Bourdon does to deserve this attention. He'll hold his own in both ends of the rink and isn't afraid to get physical. I guess there's a gut instinct about this guy that says he'll be a stalwart for years to come. We could find out as soon as this season.

~ Erik Johnson, St. Louis Blues
20 years old (03.21.88) / first overall in 2006 Draft
The skinny: There's no doubt that this kid will enjoy a long run as a top-shelf player in the NHL. A legitimate Calder Cup contender this season, he'll get to learn from Eric Brewer, Barret Jackman, Jay McKee and, maybe, some guy named Al MacInnis. St. Louis has quietly put together a talented team.

~ Jack Johnson, Los Angeles Kings
20 years old (01.13.87) / third overall in 2005 Draft
The skinny: Another member of Los Angeles' stable of young players. He may not be a household name just yet, but give him, as well as teammates (current and future) Jonathan Bernier, Mike Cammalleri, Alexander Frolov and Anze Kopitar time to grow, and the Kings should be a force out west. Having Rob Blake as a mentor shouldn't hurt, too.

~ Brian Lee, Ottawa Senators
20 years old (03.26.87) / ninth overall in 2005 Draft
The skinny: Another in the recent lineup of University of North Dakota players bound for the NHL, Lee stands to be a sleeper type of player. He's got plenty of offensive skill and should learn a ton from soon-to-be Senator teammates Andrej Meszaros, Chris Phillips, Wade Redden and the A-Train, Anton Volchenkov.

~ Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
20 years old (04.24.87) / 62nd overall in 2005 Draft
The skinny: In western Pennsylvania, the rich only get richer. The Penguins, up to their beaks in young talent, will be wicked-scary good for many seasons. Letang's potential to not only fit in, but become a major contributor, might seem unfair to Pittsburgh's overwhelmed opponents. It's not too far of a stretch to say he could be the final piece in Pittsburgh's puzzle.

~ Marc Staal, New York Rangers
20 years old (01.13.87) / third overall in 2005
The skinny: Some folks are saying he could be the best Staal ever to play in the NHL. To me, that's a pretty strong statement given that big brother Eric casts a pretty long shadow. Something tells me, though, that Marc will do just fine. I say we all sit back and enjoy today's version of the Sutter brothers roam and reign among NHL rinks.

Feel free to check out last year's best young defensemen.