NEW YORK — The Wild took something of a leap of faith this summer when they essentially penciled Brock Faber and Marco Rossi into the lineup, and so far the rookies are rewarding that faith.

Heading into Thursday night’s game against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden, center Rossi was tied with Chicago’s Connor Bedard for the rookie lead in goals with five, and defenseman Faber was tied with Ottawa’s Ridley Greig for the rookie lead with a plus/minus of 7.

In addition, defenseman Calen Addison, 23, has five assists and quarterbacks the second power-play unit in what is expected to be his first full NHL season, and blue liner Daemon Hunt just played his first two full NHL games in recent victories over the Rangers and Islanders.

“We need everybody, obviously,” coach Dean Evason said. “We’re not a team that’s built on one line or one player, one defenseman or one goalie. We need everybody to play and to play well for us to have success.”

The Wild (5-5-2) have won consecutive games for the first time this season after starting this three-game road trip with a 4-2 victory over the Islanders on Tuesday.

General manager Bill Guerin and Evason went into training camp expecting Faber and Rossi to make the team, and they kind of had to. Smarting from $14.7 million in dead cap space related to the buyouts of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter, the Wild were relying on the two rookies to take major steps forward this season.

Faber, a former Gophers star and second-round pick by Los Angeles in the 2020 entry draft, played in six playoff games last season and looked ready after helping Minnesota reach the NCAA title game. Rossi, the ninth overall pick in the same draft, was a little less of a sure thing.

A top player out of Austria, he had played 21 games with the Wild without sticking, but was productive at Iowa, scoring 34 goals among 104 points in 116 American Hockey League games. After spending his first summer in Minnesota, during which he put on 15 pounds of muscle, he has been a revelation.

Still only 22, he has three goals and an assist in his past five games, looking entirely at home in the NHL.

“He should be, right? What is he, a third-year pro?” Evason said. “He should have all the confidence in the world. He’s worked, he’s skated, played well offensively, his faceoffs have been sound, he’s been sound defensively. He’s a very well-rounded hockey player.

“… Everybody takes a different time frame to get to be a pro and an NHL player, and he’s there.”

Rossi made the team out of training camp last fall before being sent back to Iowa for more seasoning. At the time, he said, he wasn’t discouraged, just motivated.

“Of course, you want to be here,” he said this week. “So, when they send you down, the first day, you’re a little pissed about that — but in a positive way. You’re angry because you want to be here. You want to work hard, you’re more driven. So, these are all little things that help you. And then obviously this summer, my mindset and goal was to stay here.”

Faber was among the many Wild players and prospects who spent the summer training for camp, a group that included Addison, who didn’t agree to a contract until the day before training camp started in mid-October.

“Forming those bonds, the connections over the summer was great, hanging out with the guys and working out,” Faber said. “I think it’s a big part of the chemistry on this team.”

Rossi, now centering the top line with Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy and a member of the top power-play unit, agreed.

“It’s not just that I gained 15 pounds, it’s more about being around the guys,” he said. “Most of the guys from here stayed here and worked out, so you’re around them and get to know them better and you feel more comfortable. This helps a lot because coming into training camp, you feel comfortable right away. You know the guys better.

“It translated on the ice, you know? I’m just confident, comfortable on the ice with them. It helps you grow your confidence. And of course, the way I’ve been playing, I’m really happy. It’s just important that I keep working.”

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