Paul Maurice doesn’t think Winnipeg suddenly has become a bad place to play in the aftermath of the Connor Hellebuyck saga.

The Florida Panthers coach, in the Manitoba capital to take on his former team, was asked about Hellebuyck’s trade demand and eventual deal last week to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.

“I know the guys that play for the Winnipeg Jets; the guys in that room love playing here. That’s been true,” said Maurice, who coached the Jets from 2014 to 2021.

“Take a look at a guy like (Jets captain) Adam Lowry. I think sometimes, unfortunately, we have to take notice of the players that leave, but probably like you did this weekend (at the Heritage Classic), celebrate some of the great Jets that have been here, and you’ve got some great ones in your room.”

Over the years, things haven’t always ended well with prominent Jets players. However, guys like Hellebuyck, Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor did sign extensions with the small-market franchise.

Maurice has maintained a deep connection to Winnipeg, saying, “If I could have one more thing, it’s for the Winnipeg Jets to win the Stanley Cup,” in a Sportsnet television interview on the ice after the Panthers captured their first of back-to-back titles in 2023.

He was Hellebuyck’s coach in Winnipeg when the goaltender broke into the league in 2015.

“I don’t know if it’s (players) repeatedly wanting out. It’s true in every market; it’s just very personal for you when it happens,” Maurice said.

“When you’re on a roll, everybody loves it. If you’re not on a roll, nobody loves it. That’s almost the deciding thing. You guys have been in the game a long time. I went into Chicago with Hartford, and there were about 5,000 people in that building. Then they won three Stanley Cups, and you couldn’t buy a ticket if your life depended on it. Now, they’re in a bit of a rebuild, and it’s a little tougher there.

“(The Jets) won the Presidents’ Trophy a couple years ago. It’s a great team; I don’t think they’re that far off. They lost a real good player in their goaltender, but he’s not playing 20 more years. He’s going to be 34 next year. We all come and go. Celebrate the people that are here.”

Maurice is set to coach against the Jets on Tuesday at the same time Hellebuyck is slated to make his starting debut with the Devils against the Dallas Stars.