Wild sign rising defenseman Stoner to 2-year, $2.1M extension

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild have signed defenseman Clayton Stoner to a two-year, $2.1 million contract extension.

The Wild announced the move on Thursday. The 27-year-old Stoner is one member of a rebuilding defense corps that the Wild hope to improve in front of goaltender Niklas Backstrom next season.

Stoner had one goal and four assists in 51 games for the Wild last season. He led the team in plus-minus rating during an injury-plagued season and impressed coaches with his physical play on the blue line.

He was a third-round pick of the Wild in 2004 and first started to show promise in the 2010-11 when he played in 57 games and led the team in plus-minus rating with a plus-5.