The transition to the NHL has not been easy for Devils rookie Pavel Zacha, but NBC hockey analyst Pierre McGuire isn't worried about the sixth overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft.

McGuire has seen rookies in Zacha's sitution first hand, and he said struggles are natural.

"That's part of the process," McGuire said. "I broke in a guy who was the second pick overall, Chris Pronger, on a mediocre team, and it's hard for young players to dominate games on mediocre teams."

For comparison's sake, Pronger, the second overall pick of the 1993 NHL Draft by the Hartford Whalers, finished his rookie season with five goals and 25 assists as a defenseman, then followed that up with 19 points in 43 games a season later.

Pronger finished his 18-year career with 698 points in 1,167 games.

It is difficult to directly compare the two players at different positions and eras, but McGuire said at the end of the day, most rookies experience growing pains.

"So that's the biggest thing going forward," McGuire said. "They have to understand that Pavel's just got to continue to grow his brand, and I think he will."

Zacha has just two goals and five assists in 37 games this season, and he's found himself as a healthy scratch on several occasions.

The center logged a 64-points season with the Sarnia Sting in the OHL last season. Zacha's taken a far step back from that at the next level, but he understands the learning curve.

"It's always hard when you don't score and you don't have points," Zacha told NJ Advance Media before the team's 3-0 loss to the Florida Panthers on Jan. 9. "It always gets in your head, especially when you're a young guy. But I think I can get better."

While Zacha is still adapting, McGuire said he's part of the long-term solution for the Devils.

"Rome wasn't built in a day," McGuire added. "But I really do think they're going in the right direction."

Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com Devils on Facebook.