WHERE ARE THEY NOW?: KYLE RAU

Jun 23, 2026

After spending his first two full professional seasons with the Florida Panthers organization, Kyle Rau faced a decision on where to play next. That decision, made in consultation with his family, turned out to be an easy one. 

“My brother (Chad) played in Iowa and said he loved it,” said Rau.  

Rau, an Eden Prairie, Minn., native, signed with the Minnesota Wild ahead of the 2017-18 season. He spent the next five years playing with his hometown club and the Iowa Wild, where he became one of the most prolific scorers in team history. Rau left Iowa as the team's all-time leader in points with 199, a mark that was finally surpassed by Gerry Mayhew during the 2025-26 season. 

“It was nice being so close to home,” said Rau. “My parents and friends could come down for one game if they wanted to. The people in Des Moines are similar to Minnesotans, and it’s a really nice, clean city.” 

Rau, who came to Iowa in his mid-20s, matured in Des Moines as a hockey player and as a person. 

“Over those five years, I learned more about how to be a pro and what it takes to be a good player,” said Rau. “I had some great coaches along the way in Iowa, too.” 

Looking back, Rau fondly remembers success on the ice, including the team’s deepest playoff run in 2018-19, and memories created after games. 

“My favorite nights were those country music nights they would have after the games. I always enjoyed those,” said Rau. “The bus rides get long in Iowa, but some of them were an absolute blast.” 

While several years have passed since Rau’s last season in Des Moines, he says the core of Iowa’s most successful teams still keep in touch and see each other at weddings. 

“I still talk to guys like Zach Palmquist, Sam Anas, Justin Kloos, Mason Shaw, and Calen Addison,” said Rau. 

Following the 2021-22 season, Rau went on to play another pair of AHL seasons with the Abbotsford Canucks and San Jose Barracuda. 

“Abbotsford was great because it was my first time playing for a Canadian hockey team,” said Rau. “I really enjoyed the weather in San Jose in in January and February. I got to do stuff outside and enjoy a warmer winter climate for the first time.” 

In 2024-25, Rau played his first season overseas with Kunlun Red Star in the KHL, where he adjusted to a new league and continent. 

“Playing overseas has been fun, but it was a bigger adjustment than you think because of the ice size,” said Rau. “Moving away from North America and my family and dealing with the time difference was pretty difficult.” 

In the summer, Rau returns to Minneapolis, where he works out and skates at the University of Minnesota. His afternoons are spent at the lake or on the golf course, and weddings account for nearly half of his weekends. 

While Rau’s hockey journey has taken him far away from Iowa, he still speaks highly of Des Moines. 

“People in Minneapolis sometimes think Iowa is just flat and full of cornfields, but I tell them how great it is,” said Rau. “Any time a player calls me asking about Iowa, I always put in a good word, so hopefully I've helped land a couple players there for the fans.”