Bouma, Wingels energizing Chicago Blackhawks

As the Chicago Blackhawks were making final roster cuts three weeks ago, there were plenty who wondered if Lance Bouma would be on the outside looking in.

A free-agent signing over the summer to the tune of $1 million, Bouma was almost invisible during training camp and in four preseason games. It seemed completely plausible that the Hawks would put the veteran on waivers and keep Vinnie Hinostroza or Tomas Jurco.

But general manager Stan Bowman brought Bouma and Wilmette native Tommy Wingels to Chicago to energize the Hawks with the kind of infectious, hard-nosed play that has a tendency to ripple through the locker room.

Well, Bowman's vision is coming to fruition because Bouma and Wingels - along with fellow linemate John Hayden - are looking more and more comfortable in the Hawks' system with each passing day. Their improved play has turned the Hawks' fourth line into an annoying nuisance that also suddenly is a threat to score.

"When other teams' top D-pairs are out there, they know it's going to be a hard shift for them physically," Wingels said.

Bouma potted the game-winning goal Saturday in Arizona - just the sixth time he has scored in the last 118 games - when he banged home a loose puck with 4:24 left in a 4-2 victory.

The 6-foot-2, 208-pound veteran was a third-round pick of the Flames in 2008 and spent his entire career in Calgary before the team gave up on him after last season.

"I was brought here for a reason and obviously things didn't go as I wanted them to in Calgary," said Bouma, who did score 16 times in 2014-15. "So to come here and have (this) role has been a lot of fun so far."

Wingels, who battled Bouma for years while in San Jose, was asked if his new teammate looks re-energized.

"Everybody draws motivation from something different," said Wingels, who scored his first goal as a Hawk into an empty net with 54 seconds remaining at Arizona. "Obviously whether it's a team doesn't want to bring you back or it's a trade or buyout, there's certainly something that deep down gets you going.

"I think he looks refreshed. It was a good summer for him mentally to come to a new organization, come to a new group of guys and re-establish his game. …

"He looks good and he's skating really well and he moves really well for a big man. He's strong on the pucks, and he's a good asset for us."

Expecting Bouma, Wingels, Hayden or Tanner Kero - who also has played well centering the fourth line - to be double-digit scorers this season isn't very realistic. But the way they play certainly can be a lesson for the Hawks' top three lines.

They're direct. They pass well. They play with purpose. And they're always giving defenders and goalies a hard time just outside the blue paint.

"They give us a different look," coach Joel Quenneville said. "Not just skill. Some hard work, some physicality, some puck possession. Those are the kind of goals you score in our league - second opportunities, traffic at the net.

"I think that's something moving forward (others) can take a page out of what they're doing."

• Follow John on Twitter @johndietzdh