Teenage rookies Hughes, Kakko struggling early in season:

Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko were the clear favorites all along to be the top two picks in this year’s NHL draft. So far, the 18-year-olds have struggled to generate a lot of offense in the opening weeks of the season. Kakko, selected second by the New York Rangers after New Jersey took Hughes at No. 1, broke through with his first NHL goal on Saturday. Hughes nearly got his first on Monday. Now, the two youngsters will get a close-up look at each other on Thursday night when the Rangers visit the Devils for the metropolitanarea teams’ first matchup of the season. Despite Hughes’ struggles getting on the scoresheet, Devils coach John Hynes likes the way the teenager is learning and working on improving his game. “He’s really understanding how hard you need to compete in this game and how much puck battles matter, attention to detail when you don’t have the puck, and he’s making strides in those areas,” Hynes said. “He’s just a step away from really creating some pretty good offense.” Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky, now part of the Oilers’ front office, cautioned about the high expectations immediately placed on young players who come into the league as top draft picks. He pointed to Edmonton star Connor McDavid, who was a No. 1 pick in 2015. “It’s harder than people think,” Gretzky said. “There’s a little bit more pressure on these young guys than people think. Connor’s been in the league a few years, he’s lived up to it . ... Young Hughes is going to be a fine hockey player. I’ve watched him play quite a bit. He’s 18 years old, he’s in the right situation. “It’s just going to take him some time, he’s going to get his feet wet, he’s going to get some growing pains but all in all you can tell his skill level and his passion for the game.” Gretzky also talked about the adjustments a player like Hughes has to make as he adapts to the professional game and the higher level of competition.