"Guys are going to have more of an opportunity to make a name for themselves, so it's exciting for them," Forward Zach Hyman added.
Receiving immediate contributions from the likes of Hamblin and Benson will be critical to the Oilers being able to build off Saturday's high-action and exciting win over the Rangers that saw Edmonton overturn a 3-0 deficit in the final 20 minutes thanks in large part to the on-ice influence of McLeod and Foegele.
"Yeah, it's important," Hyman said. "I think it's unfortunate timing because those guys who were hurt in Foegs and Clouder had a big impact on the game and were obviously feeling good. Then, they go out and they get hurt, so it happens all across the league. You have players who are an important part of your team that are out, and usually when injuries start to pile up, they happen in succession."
"We have four guys up front who are out right now, so I think it's important and it's a good test for our team."
TAKING A GAMBLE ON HAMBLIN
At every step of James Hamblin's professional career, there have been naysayers.
The 5-foot-9 forward went undrafted to the NHL after five seasons with the WHL's Medicine Hat Tigers, three of which he wore the 'C' as club captain. He navigated AHL deals with the Bakersfield Condors with exceptional dedication to the little things in the game, eventually earning an NHL contract with a two-year, entry-level deal he signed back in March of this year.
"I saw James when he first came into the organization on an American League deal in Bakersfield," Woodcroft said. "I did a little bit of background work. It was during the pandemic year. We played about half a year and I saw a guy come in that wasn't the biggest guy in the world, but he was somebody who just kept showing up doing good things on the ice in the video sessions."
The local product shined at this summer's Young Stars Classic in Penticton, then made a massive impression at Oilers Main Camp before being one of the last cuts ahead the start of the 2022-23 NHL regular season.
"I saw somebody take a step, somebody who did all the necessary things on his development path to earn an NHL contract," Woodcroft said. "I saw somebody come into NHL training camp this year and make it until the very last day."