The Buffalo Sabres forward revealed Friday that he will wear No. 9, which he also sported at Boston University and for the United States at the World Junior Championship, after wearing No. 15 for the past three seasons.
"The No. 9 has always been a part of my identity as both a player and a person," Eichel said. "The opportunity opened to switch, and I felt it was the right time to make the change."
Forward Evander Kane had worn the number for the Sabres each of the past four seasons. He also chimed in
on Eichel's Instagram post
, where he revealed he'd be changing numbers.
Eichel teased the number switch on his Instagram story Friday, covering the number with an emoji and creating intrigue across social media. The Sabres are also offering fans with officially licensed No. 15 Eichel jerseys a credit toward the purchase of a new jersey.
