STONER, IRMEN, POULIOT AND EARL ACCEPT QUALIFYING OFFERS

SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the following players have accepted their qualifying offers for the 2009-10 season: defenseman Clayton Stoner, right wing Danny Irmen, left wing/center Benoit Pouliot and left wing Robbie Earl.

Stoner, 24 (2/19/85), notched 24 points (2-22=24) and 81 penalty minutes (PIM) in 63 games with the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League in 2008-09. He added five points (1-4=5) in 20 playoff games as the Aeros advanced to the Western Conference finals. The Port McNeill, B.C., native was Minnesota’s third-round pick (No. 79 overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Irmen, 24 (9/6/84), recorded 18 points (7-11=18) in 69 games with the Aeros in 2008-09. He scored two goals in 20 playoff games. The Fargo, N.D., native was Minnesota’s third-round pick (No. 78 overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Pouliot, 22 (9/29/86), split the 2008-09 season between Minnesota and Houston. He recorded 11 points (5-6=11) in 37 games with the Wild, and 24 points (9-15=24) in 30 games with the Aeros. In 51 career NHL games – all with the Wild, Pouliot has 14 points (7-7=14). The Alfred, Ont., native was the Wild’s first-round pick (No. 4 overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Earl, 24 (6/2/85), totaled 19 points (6-13=19) in 69 combined games with the Aeros and the Toronto Marlies in 2008-09. He has one assist in nine career NHL games with Toronto. The Chicago, Ill., native was Toronto’s sixth-round pick (No. 187 overall) in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. Earl played collegiately at Wisconsin. Earl was acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Ryan Hamilton on Jan. 21, 2009.