Preseason Power Rankings: Previewing teams ranked No. 56-53

Let’s continue my preseason power rankings, looking at the teams I have ranked No. 56-53. Today’s newsletter (#585) has in-depth looks at Air Force, Yale, RPI, and Lindenwood.

Remember, you’ll be able to keep track of ALL of our rankings by using this page:

The page will be updated with national and league-by-league rankings as more teams are released.

(56) RPI

Storylines

• Eric Lang was hired as the program's new head coach after Dave Smith was let go at the end of the season. In addition, Lang brought on Cory Schneider as an assistant coach after he spent three seasons at Clarkson. Schneider was previously an assistant with Lang at AIC.

• The Engineers have one of the largest transfer portal classes in college hockey this season (12 players).

• RPI still has one assistant spot open after Karlis Zirnis departed for Mercyhurst.

Analysis

RPI enters the season with a dramatically reshaped roster. By my count, 19 players from last year’s team either graduated or transferred, and there’s a brand-new coaching staff leading the way.

The only top-of-the-lineup returners are forwards Jagger Tapper (8g-12a) and Rainers Rullers (5g-8a), both coming off productive freshman campaigns. Defenseman Gustavs Ozolins (1g-2a) could see his role expand, but with so many new bodies in the mix, lineup combinations remain very much up in the air.

Lang has leaned heavily on the transfer portal. He targeted players who were in smaller roles elsewhere but have the potential to blossom into top-line contributors at RPI, particularly with more experience under their belts.