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 31)
Eden Prairie, Minnesota, U.S.[1]
Height5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Weight180 lb (82 kg; 12 st 12 lb)
PositionLeft Wing
ShootsLeft
AHL team
Former teams
San Jose Barracuda
Florida Panthers
Minnesota Wild
NHL draft91st overall, 2011
Florida Panthers
Playing career2015–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 seasonPlayoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2009–10Eden Prairie High SchoolUSHS253839771232240
2010–11Eden Prairie High SchoolUSHS253336698684122
2010–11Sioux Falls StampedeUSHL114610151075124
2011–12University of MinnesotaWCHA4018254329
2012–13University of MinnesotaWCHA4015254022
2013–14University of MinnesotaB1G4114264016
2014–15University of MinnesotaB1G3920214118
2014–15San Antonio RampageAHL7213010002
2015–16Portland PiratesAHL631714312451122
2015–16Florida PanthersNHL90002
2016–17Springfield ThunderbirdsAHL4810142432
2016–17Florida PanthersNHL242134
2017–18Iowa WildAHL6923275016
2017–18Minnesota WildNHL3011010000
2018–19Iowa WildAHL6926275324114264
2018–19Minnesota WildNHL60110
2019–20Iowa WildAHL511429436
2020–21Minnesota WildNHL14022910000
2021–22Iowa WildAHL5525285356
2021–22Minnesota WildNHL50000
2022–23Abbotsford CanucksAHL681619352461562
2023–24San Jose BarracudaAHL487233018
NHL totals612571520000

International

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YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
2012United StatesWJC7th63254
Junior totals63254

Awards and honors

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AwardYear
USHS
Minnesota Mr. Hockey2011[2]
College
All-WCHA Rookie Team2011–12[14]
WCHA All-Academic Team2013
B1G Second All-Star Team2014[15]
NCAA All-Tournament Team2014
NCAA West Second All-American Team2014
B1G Second All-Star Team2015
NCAA All-Americans 2nd Team2015

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.
  13. ^ "Rau stepped right in, Gophers stepped up". Star Tribune.
  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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