Career
He was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 7th round (228th overall) of the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft. On May 17, 2010, Rau was signed as a free agent by the Minnesota Wild to a two-year contract. He was assigned to play for the Houston Aeros at the start of the 2010-2011 season.
During the 2011-2012 season, he made his National Hockey League debut with the Wild and scored his first National Hockey League goal, the eventual game-winning goal, in a 5–2 victory against Kari Lehtonen of the Dallas Stars on January 21, 2012.
On February 19, 2012, he scored his second National Hockey League goal in his fifth National Hockey League game. On February 5, 2014, the Minnesota Wild traded Rau to the San Jose Sharks in exchange for Curt Gogol.
He was immediately assigned to AHL affiliate, the Worcester Sharks. After spending the first five seasons of his professional career primarily in the AHL, Rau opted to sign abroad on a one-year contract in the Austrian Hockey League with EHC Black Wings Linz on July 22, 2014.
After an unsuccessful start in the Austrian Hockey League Rau signed with SaiPa, Lappeenranta of the Finnish Elite League on December 31, 2014.
Chad"s younger brother, Kyle born October 24, 1992, played National Collegiate Athletic Association hockey with the University of Minnesota. In 2011 Kyle was named Minnesota Mr. Hockey. He currently plays within the Florida Panthers organization in the National Hockey League.