Seawolves Fans

Since being the No. 1 overall National Lacrosse League draft pick in 2011, much has been expected of Kevin Crowley. And if for some reason you want to argue that the 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-hander out of New Westminster hasn't lived up to the hype, expect some opposition. A lot of it, actually.

Kevin Crowley's young NLL career is defined by consistency. (Photo: Larry Palumbo)

He’s scored 30 or more goals in each of his first 3 seasons and even though he scored just 25 last year, he did play 2 fewer games this season in addition to making a transition from New England to Toronto after he was traded. So it appears that no matter where and for whom Crowley is balling, he gets his job done as a finisher.

Crowley came to the Rock to provide a scoring punch after some injuries in Toronto, and he did not disappoint. He had 5 goals and 12 points to help the Rock reach the Champion’s Cup finals, where the Rock lost. Over the summer, he kept himself busy with a handful of Major League Lacrosse games with Chesapeake before finding out he was heading back to New England via trade for the 2016 NLL season.

If Crowley is anything, he’s consistent, as in consistently good and consistently productive. He hasn’t exactly broken scoreboards with his totals but in averaging nearly 4.5 points per game in his 4 NLL seasons, it’s apparent that Crowley is not only among the elite, but he’s among the clutch.

Bob Chavez
Early in his career, the knock on Crowley was he needed to shoot more. And when you see the numbers he’s put up already in his young career, you can see why NLL coaches want more shots from his stick. He knows how to position his big frame and soft hands give him the ability to shoot from a variety of scenarios, making him one of the game’s most dangerous finishers today.

Marty O'Neill
I'll admit I'm not the No. 1 Crowley fan out there. I just haven't watched him play that much since Junior A, but the main reason is I see a guy who has only scratched the surface of his talent. Crowley has a serious outside shot that is his calling card to date but he was thrust into the spotlight in Philadelphia too early. Subsequently his ability to develop a well rounded game stalled as goals were needed from his stick to bring hope to a franchise. It will be interesting in 2016 to see what Shawn Evans and Crowley can do together in NE. More interesting will be what we see them do for each other.

Stephen Stamp
His numbers appear deflated in 2015 because the way the schedule for the Black Wolves and Rock worked out, he played only 14 games last year with his mid-season trade from New England to Toronto. But Crowley actually posted the highest points-per-game average of his remarkably consistent career. Since being selected by Philadelphia with the first overall pick in the draft, Crowley has put up seasons of 36, 34, 33 and 25 goals, and 71, 72, 75 and 64 points. Had he played a full 18 games last year, he was on pace to score 32 goals and 82 points. Crowley may suffer some criticism because he plays a quiet game and always looks like he has the talent to produce even more than he does. There aren't many teams, though, who wouldn't be happy to have a regular 30+ goal and 70+ point scorer who can play pretty much any style of game you want him to.