I think you're being a bit harsh on NYR as far as the ice times for Kakko and Lafreniere compared to Hughes/Hischier, especially in their first few NHL seasons and their development. Rangers are/were in a window to win, where as the Devils had very little expectations to even compete for the playoffs. It's a real luxury to not have to care about the season from a developmental process. I mean NJ pretty much threw all the kids out there because they could and really didnt have any vets who warranted guaranteed PP ice time. Rangers have Panarin, Krieder, Zab, Trochek (5ppg) ahead of them, proven scorers, whose minutes are you going to cut? And Hischier, Hughes, Bratt, they benefitted greatly not having to look over their shoulders (like Kakko getting benched in Game 6) while being afforded the ability to learn by trial and error. Throw in shitty goaltending and injuries and the season quickly becomes a very long, very intense training camp for young players to get alot of chances and real time experience with alot of organizational patience. It's what player development and rebuilding should look like. NJ gets alot more leeway than NYR in that department. Getting a #1 draft pick while you are competing for the playoffs is a weird coincidence. Throw in a few COVID seasons and disruptions and expectations should be a bit lower.
Devils could afford to throw H and H right into the NHL with top 6 minutes early on. Throwing the two of them right into the NHL was a gamble, Kakko, for sure. LaFreniere seems to have more of an NHL ready game. LaFreniere had a nice little season, 19 goals (all at ES no less) last year avging 14mpg, he's averaging almost 16mpg now, Kakko too. He probably didnt play as much because the Devils are a fast team. Kakko? Reminds me of Adam Larsson a little. The Nordic prospect "Plays in the Men's league" qualifier sounds nice, but I dont think it means a whole lot. Larsson was good, but not great and not alot of impact, meh. I'd send Kakko down to Hartford for a month, play the hell out of him and see what he does.