Rau, a forward who was picks in the third round (No. 91) by the Florida Panthers in the 2011 NHL Draft, signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Minnesota Wild on July 1, 2017.

Rau first established himself at Eden Prairie High, scoring 69 points in 25 games of his senior year to be named the Mr. Hockey Award recipient as Minnesota's finest player. He stayed home to play college hockey at the University of Minnesota. Rau was captain for the 2014-15 season, finishing with 41 points (20 goals, 21 assists) in 39 games to help the Golden Gophers win the Big Ten Conference championship. He finished with 164 points (67 points, 97 assists) before signing a three-year contract with the Panthers on March 29, 2015.

Rau scored in his first game with San Antonio of the American Hockey League. He began the following season with the Panthers' new AHL affiliate in Portland and scored 17 goals in 48 games before Florida recalled him on Feb. 19, 2016. 

The Panthers opted not to tender Rau a contract after he had three points (two goals, one assist) in 24 games during the 2016-17 season. He signed with the Wild and spent most of the season with Iowa of the AHL, though he had one assist in three games with Minnesota and dressed for one game in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Kyle's older brother, Chad Rau, played four seasons at Colorado College and spent nine games with the Wild in 2011-12.

NOTES & TRANSACTIONS

• WCHA All-Rookie Team (2012)
• Big Ten Second All-Star Team (2014)
• NCAA West Second All-American Team (2014)
• NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team (2014)
• Signed as a free agent by Minnesota, July 1, 2017.