Bowman has a more difficult path forward than Karnišovas, even if Toews returns next season. But the performances of Lankinen, Pius Suter, Brandon Hagel and Philipp Kurashev in their rookie seasons, along with budding stars DeBrincat, Dominik Kubalík and Kirby Dach, bode well for the future. The Bulls may get to the turning point sooner, but the Hawks core could be longer-lasting.
Column: After better-than-expected starts, the Bulls and Blackhawks are fizzling down the stretch. So how should we evaluate their seasons?
