As I alluded to in an article prior to the draft, the NBA and NHL drafts have become remarkably similar. Due to the rules of the NBA draft, which water down the college talent and prohibit high school players from entering the NBA, the “talent” available at the annual player selection is nothing more than a crapshoot.

The NHL has been this way for years, but has closed the gap recently. The jump from amateur status to the professional level has gotten a lot smaller. The training, research and development of younger athletes puts their physical curve in check with the mental adjustment to the professional level.

Players like Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos and Evgeni Malkin are generational talents that only come around every five years or so. That isn’t to say that there aren’t players that will turn into elite professionals. Players like Pavel Datsyuk (drafted 1998, 171st overall) were diamonds in the rough. Projecting him to be a world-class player at age 20 involves as much sorcery and dumb luck as it does talent recognition.

This year there are another group of players who impressed the scouts, drawing comparisons to current pros. None of them, however are a sure thing. I’ll pull out my crystal ball and make sense of who will be a star and who will be a punch line in a few years.

1. Seth Jones, D, Nashville Predators

Jones was regarded by many to be the most talented player in the draft. With maturity beyond his 18 years and incredible athletic gifts, Jones was as close to a sure thing in this years’ draft that I saw across the board. He’ll join Shea Weber in Music City and learn to play at the NHL level with a surly guardian angel watching his back. Add the jilted, pissed off because he dropped to fourth in the draft factor and you have a determined young man with a big chip on his shoulder. The words literally came out of his mouth when he was asked about his draft position. The sky is literally the limit for Jones, and watch out when he gets an NHL workout regimen to follow.

2. Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers

Almost everyone was shocked that Florida passed on Jones and chose the big Finn with the second pick. Panthers GM Dale Tallon knows exactly what he’s doing though. Barkov played, and played well, in the Finnish Elite League as a 17-year old. The 6’3” center has all the tools to excel in the NHL game and will have this year’s Calder Trophy winner Jonathan Huberdeau to show him the ropes. Barkov’s size and hands are as good as any prospect this year. With little to no pressure for success in South Beach, Barkov and the Panthers will have time to grow at a calculated and deliberate pace.

3. Bo Horvat, C, Vancouver Canucks

Of course Horvat will be linked to the trade that sent Cory Schneider to New Jersey (the original owners of the number nine pick) but it will be a couple of years before we see the real value in Horvat at the NHL level. He has a big and developed body that appears to be NHL ready and is considered by some to be the most complete player in the 2013 draft class. Horvat is exceptional at the defensive end, but also has great vision on the ice as a playmaker and carries a big shot as well. His strength is between the ears where Horvat has shown remarkable maturity and leadership for an 18-year old. He is a perfect fit for new Canucks coach John Tortorella and can be groomed into a future captain in Vancouver.