The full 2025-26 schedule is released, bonus restrictions in the new CBA could hurt Canadian teams, Thomas Vanek joins the Sharks’ front office, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: The full 2025-26 regular-season schedule was released on Wednesday. Among the notable games:

The Florida Panthers will raise their second straight Stanley Cup banner during their home opener when they host the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 7. It will be part of the league’s season-opener triple-header, as the Pittsburgh Penguins travel to New York to face the Rangers while the Colorado Avalanche will meet the Kings in Los Angeles.

The New York Islanders’ season opener could feature 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer when they face the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Oct. 9.

Speaking of the Penguins, former head coach Mike Sullivan will face his former club from behind the New York Rangers’ bench in Pittsburgh on Oct. 11.

Florida Panthers winger Brad Marchand (NHL Images).

On Oct. 21, former Bruins winger Brad Marchand returns to Boston for the first time since being traded to the Panthers.

The annual Hall of Fame game takes place on Nov. 8 as the Bruins travel to Toronto to meet the Maple Leafs.

On Nov. 14 and 16, the Pittsburgh Penguins face the Nashville Predators in the two-game NHL Global Series in Stockholm, Sweden.

On Nov. 22, the Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers will meet in their first game since the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

The 2026 Winter Classic featuring the New York Rangers and the Panthers will be held on Jan. 2, 2026, at Miami’s loanDepot Park.

On Jan. 19, former Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews returns to Chicago for the first time as a member of another team. He’s staging a comeback this season with the Winnipeg Jets.

Former Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mitch Marner will face his former club in Toronto on Jan. 23 for the first time as a member of the Vegas Golden Knights.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico looked at how some of the changes in the new NHL collective bargaining agreement (CBA) will affect teams around the league.

He observed that changes to bonus restrictions could affect the seven Canadian teams the most. Under the current system, Canadian teams use signing bonuses to attract star talent via free agency. In some cases, those bonuses made up nearly 90 percent of the player’s contract.

This was done because a player in Canada faces higher tax rates compared to some American teams based in no-tax states.

Under the new CBA, signing bonuses will be limited to up to 60 percent of the player’s total salary within the life of the contract. D’Amico cited a source saying that it would have the most impact on Canadian teams and American clubs in higher-tax states like California and New York.

The source also pointed out that there are still other avenues of going about this. D’Amico also cited Jeff Gorton, the Montreal Canadiens’ executive VP of hockey operations, who recently said that there are certain things his club could do to alleviate the tax issue.

D’Amico noted the signing bonuses won’t be going away, but the limitations on them mean they won’t be used as aggressively as in the past.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Canadian teams pay higher taxes than some American teams (especially those in no-tax states). However, players on Canadian teams have the advantage of being paid in US dollars.

The current exchange rate indicates that the US dollar is worth $1.38 Canadian. As PuckPedia points out, that is a fantastic benefit for players in Canada.

In 2016, Concordia Business Review indicated that a weak Canadian dollar benefits between 25 percent and 50 percent of NHL players. While working in Canada, expenses such as lodging, meals and insurance are all paid with Canadian dollars. Canadians who play for American teams usually maintain their primary residence in Canada and return home during the offseason, thus profiting from the exchange rate.

SPORTSNET: Former NHL player Thomas Vanek is joining the San Jose Sharks as a hockey operations advisor. He spent 14 seasons in the league from 2005-06 to 2018-19 with the Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Montreal Canadiens, New York Islanders and Vancouver Canucks. In 1,029 games, Vanek had 373 goals and 416 assists for 789 points.

THE MONTREAL GAZETTE: The Canadiens signed center Joe Veleno to a one-year, $900,000 contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Veleno doesn’t address the Canadiens’ need for an experienced second-line center. However, he will provide them with a left-handed check-line faceoff specialist who can play center or on the wing.

RG.ORG: Marco D’Amico reports that there were multiple teams interested in Logan Mailloux before the Montreal Canadiens traded him to the St. Louis Blues for Zack Bolduc on July 1. The 22-year-old defenseman is looking forward to playing for his new team, but also praised the Canadiens’ organization.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: The Red Wings signed prospect forward Carter Bear to a three-year entry-level contract. Bear, 18, was chosen 13th overall in this year’s draft by the Red Wings.

TSN: Former NHL goaltender and San Jose Sharks executive Wayne Thomas passed away on Monday at age 77.

Thomas spent eight seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs and New York Rangers from 1972-73 to 1980-81. In 243 games, he had a record of 103-93-34 with a 3.34 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage. He joined the Sharks organization in 1993 and spent 22 seasons with the franchise, retiring as assistant general manager and team vice-president.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: My condolences to Thomas’ family, friends, former teammates and coworkers.