Kyle Rau (born October 24, 1992) is an American professional ice hockey forward who is currently playing with the San Jose Barracuda in the American Hockey League (AHL). He was selected by the Florida Panthers in the 3rd round (91st overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Kyle Rau
Rau with the Portland Pirates in 2015
Born (1992-10-24) October 24, 1992 (age 32)
Eden Prairie, Minnesota, U.S.[1]
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight 180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
Position Left Wing
Shoots Left
AHL team
Former teams
San Jose Barracuda
Florida Panthers
Minnesota Wild
NHL draft 91st overall, 2011
Florida Panthers
Playing career 2015–present

Playing career

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In following his family ties, Rau first established himself in being a standout player in high school with Eden Prairie High. In his final year in 2011, Rau scored 69 points in 25 games to earn selection as the Minnesota Mr. Hockey winner, as the best school player in Minnesota.[2] Rau committed and played collegiate hockey within his home state, with the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

In his senior year, Rau captained Minnesota for the 2014–15 season. Leading the Gophers to the Big Ten Conference Championship, he compiled 20 goals and 41 points in 39 games. On March 29, 2015, Rau signalled the end of his college career, having amassed 164 points in 160 contests, in signing a three-year entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers.[3] He was then signed to an amateur try-out contract to complete the season in making his professional debut in the American Hockey League with affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. Rau scored in his first game with the Rampage on his first shot, in a 7–3 defeat to the Adirondack Flames on April 4, 2015.[4]

After attending the Panthers 2015 training camp, Rau was assigned to being his rookie professional season with new AHL affiliate, the Portland Pirates on September 25, 2015.[5] In the 2015–16 season, Rau quickly adapted to the pro level, scoring 17 goals in 48 games before he received his first NHL recall to the Panthers on February 19, 2016.[6] He made his NHL debut in a 3–1 victory over the Winnipeg Jets on February 20, 2016.[7]

Following the 2016–17 season with the Panthers, Rau was surprisingly not tendered a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. On July 1, 2017 he signed as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild.[8]

Rau spent most of the 2018-19 season with the Iowa Wild placing second on the team in goals scored with 26, fourth on the team in assists at 27, and third on the team in points with 53. Rau made his debut on January 20, 2018 with the Minnesota Wild, against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He got his first point with the Wild as the secondary assist on a Nate Prosser goal.[9] Rau stayed with the Minnesota Wild for the month of February playing in 6 games before getting sent back down to Iowa.

As a free agent from the Wild after 5 seasons within the organization, Rau remained un-signed leading into the following 2022–23 season. On October 25, 2022, he was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Abbotsford Canucks, the primary affiliate to the Vancouver Canucks.[10]

For the second consecutive season, Rau remained un-signed leading into the commencement of the 2023–24 season, before belatedly signing a one-year contract with the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL on December 11, 2023.[11]

Personal

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Kyle's older brother, Chad Rau, played NCAA hockey with Colorado College. He also played 9 games in the NHL with the Minnesota Wild and is currently playing in the Kontinental Hockey League for HC Neftekhimik. He also has a brother, Matt, and a twin brother, Curt.[12][13]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2009–10 Eden Prairie High School USHS 25 38 39 77 12 3 2 2 4 0
2010–11 Eden Prairie High School USHS 25 33 36 69 8 6 8 4 12 2
2010–11 Sioux Falls Stampede USHL 11 4 6 10 15 10 7 5 12 4
2011–12 University of Minnesota WCHA 40 18 25 43 29
2012–13 University of Minnesota WCHA 40 15 25 40 22
2013–14 University of Minnesota B1G 41 14 26 40 16
2014–15 University of Minnesota B1G 39 20 21 41 18
2014–15 San Antonio Rampage AHL 7 2 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 2
2015–16 Portland Pirates AHL 63 17 14 31 24 5 1 1 2 2
2015–16 Florida Panthers NHL 9 0 0 0 2
2016–17 Springfield Thunderbirds AHL 48 10 14 24 32
2016–17 Florida Panthers NHL 24 2 1 3 4
2017–18 Iowa Wild AHL 69 23 27 50 16
2017–18 Minnesota Wild NHL 3 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
2018–19 Iowa Wild AHL 69 26 27 53 24 11 4 2 6 4
2018–19 Minnesota Wild NHL 6 0 1 1 0
2019–20 Iowa Wild AHL 51 14 29 43 6
2020–21 Minnesota Wild NHL 14 0 2 2 9 1 0 0 0 0
2021–22 Iowa Wild AHL 55 25 28 53 56
2021–22 Minnesota Wild NHL 5 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Abbotsford Canucks AHL 68 16 19 35 24 6 1 5 6 2
2023–24 San Jose Barracuda AHL 48 7 23 30 18
NHL totals 61 2 5 7 15 2 0 0 0 0

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2012 United States WJC 7th 6 3 2 5 4
Junior totals 6 3 2 5 4

Awards and honors

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Award Year
USHS
Minnesota Mr. Hockey 2011 [2]
College
All-WCHA Rookie Team 2011–12 [14]
WCHA All-Academic Team 2013
B1G Second All-Star Team 2014 [15]
NCAA All-Tournament Team 2014
NCAA West Second All-American Team 2014
B1G Second All-Star Team 2015
NCAA All-Americans 2nd Team 2015

References

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  1. ^ "Rau, Kyle". National Hockey League. April 5, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Edin Prairie's Kyle Rau wins Mr Hockey Award". National Hockey League. March 13, 2011. Retrieved March 13, 2011.
  3. ^ "Panthers agree to terms with Kyle Rau". Florida Panthers. March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  4. ^ "Kyle Rau records first AHL goal in first game". Florida Panthers. April 5, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  5. ^ "Florida Panthers announce roster changes". Florida Panthers. September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  6. ^ "Panthers recall Matheson, Rau". Florida Panthers. February 19, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  7. ^ "Panthers rookies thrilled to witness Jagr's history-making goals in their NHL debuts". Sun-Sentinel. February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  8. ^ "Wild signs Veteran defenseman Kyle Quincey, 6 others". Minnesota Star Tribune. July 1, 2017. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
  9. ^ "Tampa Bay Lightning - Minnesota Wild - January 20th, 2018". National Hockey League. January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  10. ^ "Canucks sign Rau to one-year AHL contract". Abbotsford Canucks. October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  11. ^ "Barracuda sign veteran forward Kyle Rau". San Jose Barracuda. December 11, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  12. ^ "Success with U eases separation pangs for U's Rau". Star Tribune. November 11, 2011.
  13. ^ "Rau stepped right in, Gophers stepped up". Star Tribune. April 2012.
  14. ^ "WCHA All-Rookie Teams". College Hockey Historical Archives. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
  15. ^ "Kyle Rau to make NHL debut". Minnesota Golden Gophers. February 20, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2016.
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