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Minnesota Wild: 2018-19 Season Preview of Kyle Rau

By Cody Defoe

ST. PAUL, MN - JANUARY 20: Minnesota Wild Left Wing Kyle Rau (37) follows the play during a NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning on January 20, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. The Wild defeated the Lightning 5-2.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ST. PAUL, MN - JANUARY 20: Minnesota Wild Left Wing Kyle Rau (37) follows the play during a NHL game between the Minnesota Wild and Tampa Bay Lightning on January 20, 2018 at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. The Wild defeated the Lightning 5-2.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Minnesota Wild prospect, Kyle Rau, is next on the countdown to preseason. That means there’s only 37 days remaining until preseason!

Forward Kyle Rau is about to enter his second season with the Minnesota Wild franchise, after signing a new 2 year deal in June. Rau may be a bit of a stretch for these player previews, as he was signed to a 2-way deal and looks to spend at least another season developing in the AHL before getting a realistic full time look at the Minnesota roster.

History

Kyle Rau was a 3rd Round Draft Pick of the Florida Panthers back in 2011. Minnesota hockey fans most likely remember him as a contributing 40 point scorer for his 4 seasons at the University of Minnesota, where he was team captain for his final 2 seasons with the squad.

Upon completing his university career, Rau reported to the Florida Panthers franchise where he was unfortunate to be left in the Panthers unstable farm team system as he played for 3 different AHL franchises while under contract with Florida.

Rau made his NHL debut late in the 2016 season, then as a member of the Panthers who gave him his 9 game “tryout” with the big league club. Kyle Rau finished that 9 game stint with 0 points, 2 PIM, and a -1 plus/minus as he underwhelmed in his first NHL experience.

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Kyle got to start the 2016-17 season with the Panthers, where he made a slightly better impression through 24 games over the first 2 months of the NHL season. He finished with 3 points, 4 PIM, and -3 plus/minus before being reassigned to finish the rest of the season in Springfield of the AHL.

Last season, Rau signed a one year deal to join the Minnesota Wild. Being so familiar with the State of Hockey and our fans can only benefit Rau as he attempts to break out and earn NHL playing time in the state that he called home for 4 years of University.

His first shot at the Minnesota Wild roster was again underwhelming. Rau spent most of last season with Iowa in the AHL, but did get a chance to make his NHL debut for 3 games in January and 1 game in the playoffs against Winnipeg.

In his AHL season with Iowa, however, Rau definitely looked the part as he impressed with 50 points through 69 games played, enough so that Minnesota coach Bruce Boudreau trusted him with a chance to try to spark some scoring in the first round playoff series against Winnipeg.

Season Outlook

Putting Kyle Rau on this list feels like a bit of a stretch, considering I personally do not see him as having a place or a means to land on the NHL roster this season without multiple injuries to key players at the same time.

Despite that, his past NHL opportunities along with the current Minnesota Wild roster page on wild.com listing him as “Active Roster” rather than “In the System” have led us to this point. Kyle Rau is not to be confused with longtime Wild prospect and Houston Aeros veteran Chad Rau. Kyle is a young and skilled center trying to develop his game to the pro level.

He has shown himself to be a responsible player on the ice, as he does not take many penalties nor is he a large defensive liability. His 2 way game could use some work, however, as scoring 50 points yet finishing -3 shows there is room for improvement in that aspect of the game.

He has leadership qualities, as shown by his captaincy at the U of Minnesota, and the only faceoff stats I could find where from his 24 game stint with Florida which currently read at 66.67% that season.

The lineup in the State of Hockey is getting awfully crowded, and I don’t envy new GM Paul Fenton on having to dig through the weeds to find the gems on this team. There’s too many players on this roster vying for NHL spots and not enough spots to go around.

dark. Next. Minnesota Wild: 2018 Offseason in Review

With a 2 year contract, Rau may have to look at spending another season as a stable presence in Iowa. There may be opportunity for him to see some NHL game time later in the season, but unless he blows the coaches and fans away I just do not see a way for him to stick this year. Better luck next training camp? Or perhaps he will be the benefactor of a blockbuster trade, either of another player or of himself.

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