This is.... This is awkward.
The fact it's the start to 2016-17 is a tad awkward; blame the World Cup of Hockey for the delay to things. Oh, and I do mean delay - the previous World Cup of Hockey ended on September 14, one day before NHL training camps were set to begin. This one? The one in 2016? It didn't truly come to an end until nearly October.
That's not the awkward I'm focused on here though, ladies and gents. No, no, it's the fact the Detroit Red Wings first opponent of the regular season is the team that bounced them from the 2016 NHL playoffs in five games played.