Black Wolves trade Shawn Evans to Buffalo for Callum Crawford

The New England Black Wolves traded Shawn Evans and a fourthround pick in the 2019 National Lacrosse League Entry draft to the Buffalo Bandits on Wednesday for Callum Crawford and a second round pick in the 2019 draft.

Crawford, a 6-foot-3 forward, has 18 goals and 22 assist in nine games for the Bandits and his a two-time NLL All-Pro pick with 829 career points (294 goals, 535 assists) in 180 game. His 535 assists ranks 10th all-time in NLL history.

"We are very excited to get a player like Callum Crawford," Black Wolves general manager Rich Lisk said in a release. "He is someone we have had our eye on for quite some time. He is an elite player in the NLL.

"We look at his athletic ability, combined with his offensive presence and the fact that he is also a tremendous two-way player, and that fits right into the scheme of how we want our team to play."

Crawford, who was traded to Buffalo in August after spending the previous two seasons with the Colorado Mammoth, had a career-best 36 goals in 2017. He had 83 assists and a career-high 115 points with the Mammoth in 2016, In 2016, he had 83 assists and a career-high 115 points. The 83 assists tied the NLL single-season record shared by Evans and Josh Sanderson.

Evans, the only play in NLL history to record 100 points in five straight seasons, had 18 goals and 33 assists in nine games for the Black Wolves this season, and he ranks eighth all-time in NLL career points with 1,061 and seventh in assists with 675.

"The Black Wolves will always be grateful to Shawn Evans," Lisk said. "When we made the trade for Shawn before our second year at Mohegan Sun, he instantly gave us that "It" factor. He led us to two playoff appearances, and provided us with many memorable moments.

"It's always hard to part ways with a player, and a person, of Shawn's character. On behalf of the whole Black Wolves organization we want to thank Shawn for all he has done for our organization."

The Black Wolves (5-4) visit Toronto on March 11.

New England’s Shawn Evans (15) takes a shot between Georgia defenders Jordan MacIntosh, left, and Jason Noble (45) during a National Lacrosse League playoff game in 2016. The Black Wolves traded the popular Evans to the Buffalo Bandits on Wednesday for...