Jets fans Pierre-Luc Dubois scores against Winnipeg.

Winnipeg Jets fans welcomed Pierre-Luc Dubois to the Canadian Life Center on Tuesday night with a reception as cold as the freezing winter weather. Then he had the last laugh.

Acquired in the blockbuster Patrick Lane deal at the start of the 2020-21 season, Dubois has been public enemy No. 1 in Winnipeg — with the 25-year-old showering the Jets faithful from the first shift of the game.

Dubois' three-year stint with the Jets was overshadowed by constant rumors about his future – which he aimed to spend anywhere but Winnipeg.

It was a strange video tribute to Pierre-Luc Dubois.

Mostly boos, a couple of claps, but DuBois didn't seem to know there was a video tribute for him.

It was also very short. #NHLJets pic.twitter.com/VogvTiHHKo

— Jacob Stoller (@JLStoller) October 18, 2023

Despite the reception, Dubois had the last laugh as he opened the scoring midway through the second period and got his first point in a Kings uniform.

Dubois has informed the Jets that he will test the free agent market after the 2021-22 season — his second year with the team — when his contract expires. Then, after the 2022-23 season, Dubois was asked to be traded by Winnipeg after scoring a career-high 63 points. Dubois' camp and the Jets facilitated trades for Gabriel Villardi, Alex Iafallo, Rasmus Kupari and the Los Angeles Kings, who saw Winnipeg's way in the second round.

“I've talked to him a lot, spent a lot of time with him,” Jets coach Rick Bowness told reporters Monday. “I tried to convince him to stay, but it's not going to happen no matter what. I have no problem with Dubi. We had a very good relationship.”

Dubois was not greeted as warmly by the fans as he had hoped, but he got the last laugh after the score was revealed. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) — Dubois wasn't greeted as warmly by the fans as expected, but he got the last laugh after opening the scoring. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

Dubois was not greeted as warmly by the fans as he had hoped, but got the last laugh after the score was revealed. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) — Dubois wasn't greeted as warmly by the fans as expected, but he got the last laugh after opening the scoring. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)

Dubois came to Winnipeg after being asked to trade from Columbus. He didn't go over well with the Columbus fans either, with the infamous final shift in which Blue Jackets coach John Tortorella benched Dubois for the rest of the game after the first shift.

“I knew Columbus was going to criticize me when I asked for my trade,” Dubois said in a recent interview. “I knew I was going to be challenged when something like that happened in Winnipeg. I asked him, “I don't want to be criticized but I don't do my job… or I want to be criticized but I want to be? Are you happy with my life?”

Dubois was well prepared for what was coming from the Winnipeg fans.

“You guys think it's 'boo,'” Dubois, whose nickname is “Doobie,” told reporters Tuesday morning. “But I'm going with the dub. So I'm going to turn it into a positive.”

The Kings won the game 5-1 for their first win of the young campaign.

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