They've got a new captain, a revamped leadership core and a host of high-profile prospects looking to break into the NHL.

They've added one of the most exciting goal-scoring prospects in recent history to the fold through the NHL Draft Lottery and he's about to take the province by storm.

And there's a growing belief around NHL circles that the slow build might be on the verge of delivering some promising results.

There's a buzz surrounding the Winnipeg Jets as they get set to hit the ice on Friday morning for the first official day of training camp.

While the Jets remain a bubble team in the meat grinder that is the Central Division, the juicy storylines appear to be plentiful as training camp opens and there's no shortage of intrigue on the horizon.

The combination of proud veterans looking to keep their place and the youthful exuberance of those trying to steal a roster spot figures to create an interesting dynamic as the pre-season gets going and the Jets prepare for their October 13 opener against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Here are some of the things we'll be watching during the coming days and weeks:

How will Wheeler lead?

Blake Wheeler is the new captain of the Jets and he'll continue to lead the way he always has – with both his actions and his words.

Wheeler is a bit more emotional than predecessor Andrew Ladd and that's not a bad thing.

He's worked hard to become one of the elite forwards in the game and wearing the C won't change who he is or what he does.

Wheeler has missed the playoffs in five of the past six seasons and he'd gladly trade personal statistics for team success.

He was the right choice for team captain and he's poised to have the most productive season of his career.

Who will Laine play with?

Since the Jets moved up to second overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, Manitobans have adopted Team Finland as their own, watching Laine suit up at both the world championship and the World Cup of Hockey.

Although he didn't hit the ice in July at development camp, Laine attracted plenty of attention with his mere presence.

Once Laine returns from Toronto, he'll hit the ice in Winnipeg and folks can't wait to see who he'll be on a line with.

The smart money is with Bryan Little and Drew Stafford, at least to start.

The next part of the equation revolves around finding chemistry with his linemates and seeing how big an impact the Finnish rookie can actually have.

Jets head coach Paul Maurice has already said he'll work hard to manage the expectations surrounding Laine, but it says here he should eclipse 20 goals and could ultimately finish in the 25-plus range and provide a major boost to the power play.

Who wins the battle of the crease?

Basically for the first training camp since the Jets returned, it's a full-on open competition for the starting job in goal.

Incumbent Ondrej Pavelec has been pushed before, but to keep the No. 1 mantle he'll have to hold off Connor Hellebuyck, who got a taste of the NHL last season when Pavelec was out with a knee injury and he's hungry to show he can carry the mail.

Pavelec finished the season on a high note, but he's going into the final year of his contract, so he's playing for both the present and the future.

Michael Hutchinson was signed to a two-year deal during the off-season and he's looking to return to 2014-15 form.

There's an outside chance the Jets could carry three goalies on the opening-day roster, but it seems unlikely at this point.

As has been written in this space before, the best path for the Jets in the first quarter of the season might be to go with a rotation before riding the hot hand.

When (or) will Jacob Trouba report to camp?

With all of the excitement surrounding the Jets, the elephant in the room is the uncertain immediate future of RFA defenceman Jacob Trouba.

With Team North America eliminated from playoff contention at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey thanks to Russia's win over Finland on Thursday, Trouba's potential holdout is on the verge of beginning.

The longer the negotiation stalemate drags on, the probability of a messy divorce rises – though both sides still want to avoid that option at all costs.

It's premature to suggest the two sides have hit the point of no return, but Trouba not being at training camp on time probably wouldn't benefit either party.

For a player with no arbitration rights, holding out from training camp is one of the few weapons in his arsenal when it comes to bargaining leverage.

But it's hard to imagine not being on the ice with his teammates enhances the value of a player who is trying to show his worth stretches beyond the traditional statistics.

It's clear the Jets value what Trouba brings to the table, otherwise they would have seriously considered the offers that presumably are coming their way.

The Jets are clearly a better team with Trouba in the lineup, so finding a way to make it work on money and term might be as important as anything happening on the ice during the next few weeks.

Which youngsters will win a job?

Last season, the Jets broke camp with three rookies – Nikolaj Ehlers, Andrew Copp and Nic Petan – and two of those three spent the entire campaign in the NHL.

The competition level is going to be high in this camp, with guys like Kyle Connor, Jack Roslovic, Brendan Lemieux and Josh Morrissey (among others) hoping to join Laine on the opening-day roster.

Copp and Petan are in a serious battle to make the roster for the second consecutive October, while several other guys who got NHL auditions down the stretch are looking to stave off the heightened competition.

It's hard to imagine the Jets adding three more rookies to the lineup this fall but only time will tell.

Morrissey is the wild card for me.

In addition to having a full summer of training after recovering from his ankle injury, his mobility, smarts and puck-moving ability make him a fallback plan if Trouba's potential holdout stretches beyond the start of the regular season.

Morrissey should find himself in the mix for a spot on the third pairing as well, regardless of what happens with Trouba.