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Goaltenders: 10-6 | 5-1 | Defensemen: 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 |

Forwards: 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1 |

Despite being slammed into glass by oncoming fore-checkers shift after shift, and wearing bruises from rubber projectiles blasted into their anatomies every night, it's pretty good - quite lucrative, actually - to be an NHL defenseman.

Ask Jeff Petry.

A potential top-10 trio leads our five top-rated defense prospects for the 2015 NHL Draft, a group of elite young players poised to earn a whack of money in their careers.

5. Jeremy Roy, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)

Comparisons to Duncan Keith are always a good thing.

Roy is a two-way, three-zone defenseman who oozes hockey intelligence. He's undersized at 6-feet, and his speed isn't exactly off the charts, but he makes up for his physical deficiencies with smart plays and a firm desire to compete.

An elite puck-handler, Roy is a right-handed shot who plays primarily on the left side and can facilitate transition offense with ease, or lead the rush himself.

Roy produced at a near point-per-game pace in his second season with Phoenix, recording five goals and 38 assists in 46 games.

4. Jakub Zboril, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

With a little offense, and a little malevolence, the Czech-born Zboril was all over the scoresheet in his first major junior season.

Though he missed seven weeks with an injury and was issued two suspensions - one for kicking an opponent, and the other or an illegal check to the head - Zboril scored 13 goals, 33 points, and tallied 73 penalty minutes.

Zboril is an all-situations contributor whose physicality blends well with top-end skating and a powerful shot. TSN's Craig Button admits he needs to be reeled in just a bit, but his colleague, Bob McKenzie, placed him in a lottery position for his final draft rankings.

3. Zach Werenski, Michigan Wolverines (Big Ten)

Werenski emerged as Michigan's top defenseman last season as a 17-year-old freshman competing against players three-to-four years his senior.

The 6-foot-2, 214-pound blue-liner has a powerful upper body, fluid stride, composure with the puck, and an accurate stretch pass. He will contribute in a top-four role, and play quarterback on the power play, for a long time.

Werenski finished with nine goals and 24 points in 32 games and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team. He might already be ready for another step up in competition.

2) Ivan Provorov, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Russian-born, but bred on this side of the pond, Provorov has a complete, thorough understanding of the North American game. He has a supreme mental make-up, possesses game-breaking talent, and might be the most NHL-ready defender in the draft.

He left home at 14 and quickly became one of the more sought-after major junior prospects after scoring 194 points in 102 games in the Wilkes-Barre minor hockey system. His offensive wizardry carried into his rookie season in the WHL, where he scored 15 goals and 61 points in 60 contests - fourth-most among defensemen.

Provorov commands the game when the puck is on his stick, and works angles effectively in the defensive zone to make up for a slight disadvantage in stature.

1) Noah Hanifin, Boston College (Hockey East)

Long considered the top defenseman in the draft, Hanifin held off the hard-charging competition in his freshman season at Boston College.

He's a spectacular skater. His flawless technique is graceful, yet powerful, and carries him around the ice at a deceptive, dangerous speed. Hanifin is at his best when leading the rush, can distribute effectively, but doesn't have a top-end shot.

Hanifin has strong decision-making skills and rarely puts himself out of position, having a firm grasp of when to push the puck forward.

Like Werenski, he accelerated through high school to play his draft season in the NCAA, where he scored five goals and 23 points in 37 collegiate contests.

theScore's composite draft rankings are compiled using information from ESPN's Corey Pronman, as well as TSN's Bob McKenzie and Craig Button.