"The way the fans, all the people lived that journey with me the first year, was unbelievable," Selanne said. "The whole city was behind that journey and it was hard to believe how excited the people were. Didn't matter where I went. They made me feel so special.
"They helped me so much all those years I played here."
Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman, who presented Selanne with the key to the city, praised him as a great ambassador for the city and the game.
"What makes it all that much more special is that Teemu was and is as great a person as he was a hockey player," Bowman said. "That really says something.
"He always made time for fans, for autographs, for charities and really is a true ambassador for the game of hockey that we all love."
Part of Selanne's legend in Winnipeg is that he played street hockey with his neighbors and their kids during his tenure with the Jets.
"Teemu is part of hockey folklore that really binds us as Winnipeggers and as patriots of hockey," Bowman said. "Winnipeggers really opened up their hearts to Teemu when he moved here and he embraced the city right back."