hockeyfights.com forums - Minnesota Signs Zidlicky and Stoner to Extensions

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed Marek Zidlicky to a three-year contract extension thru the 2012-13 season and Clayton Stoner to a two-year contract extension thru the 2011-12 season.

“Marek logs a large number of minutes every night and also creates a lot of offense for our team,” Fletcher said. “We are excited he has agreed to continue to play with the Wild.”

Zidlicky, 33 (2/3/77), has posted 36 points (5-31=36) in 60 games for the Wild this season, breaking his own team record for most assists by a defenseman. He had 42 points (12-30=42) in 76 games with the Wild in 2008-09. The 5-foot-11, 186-pound native of Most, Czech Republic, has played six NHL seasons with Nashville and Minnesota, recording 253 points (52-201=253) and 424 penalty minutes in 443 games. Zidlicky ranks 13th among all NHL defensemen in points since joining the league in 2003-04. Zidlicky was acquired from Nashville in exchange for Ryan Jones and a second-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on July 1, 2008. He was originally the New York Rangers’ sixth-round pick (No. 176 overall) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Zidlicky has competed for the Czech Republic in the last two Olympics, including last month in Vancouver where he recorded five assists in five games.

“Stoner is a young defenseman that adds size and toughness to our defensive corps,” said Fletcher. “We are excited about his future with the Wild.”

Stoner, 25 (2/19/85), has recorded two assists and 12 penalty minutes (PIM) in eight games with Minnesota this season. He made his NHL debut Dec. 17 at Montreal and recorded his first NHL point with an assist Dec. 19 at Ottawa. Stoner is currently on Injured Reserve after undergoing successful sports hernia surgery Feb. 12 by Dr. Ulrike Muschaweck in Munich, Germany. He has notched 80 points (15-65=80), 407 PIM and a +24 rating in 283 games during five seasons with the Houston Aeros in the American Hockey League (AHL). The 6-foot-3, 225-pound native of Port McNeill, B.C., was the Wild’s third-round pick (79th overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.