Even the absence of Steven Stamkos didn't dull a wild start to NHL free agency.

The frenzy most certainly returned to July 1 with a flood of deals opening the annual Canada Day tradition.

Milan Lucic landed with the Edmonton Oilers, Loui Eriksson picked the Vancouver Canucks, and Andrew Ladd agreed to join John Tavares with the New York Islanders. Also quickly signed in a truly turbulent opening hour was David Backes, who joined the Boston Bruins, Frans Nielsen, who will try to fill Pavel Datsyuk's void in Detroit, and Kyle Okposo, who landed in Buffalo to perhaps play with teenage talent Jack Eichel.

The Calgary Flames added big, veteran winger Troy Brouwer to their youthful forward contingent, while the Stanley Cup finalist San Jose Sharks scooped up 26-year-old Mikkel Boedker on a four-year deal.

Arguably the biggest signing of the day was to a player who wasn't up for unrestricted free agency until next summer: Victor Hedman, Tampa's No. 1 defenceman, re-signed for eight years and $64 million on a contract that takes effect after next season. He joins Stamkos, who opted to remain with the Lightning on an eight-year deal of his own two days earlier.

The Toronto area native was expected be the top free agent catch, dashing the hopes of interested suitors to stick with Tampa.

The Lightning later locked up their goalie of the future, signing Andrei Vasilevskiy to a three-year deal that begins in 2017.

NHL general managers were a mostly calculated, rational bunch last summer, but this July 1 more than a few deals were long, pricey and full of risk. Thirteen contracts of at least four years were dished out, including eight of at least five years, many to players on the wrong side of 30.

The risk is obvious: catching players on the decline of their productivity with a cap that's rising only incrementally.

"I think that everything that happens these days, it's too much money," Maple Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello said. "I don't see many contracts that were signed that I would say was not too much money."

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said the competition for free agents, even those past 30, made it so that "if you wanted to land an unrestricted free agent you had to be prepared to step up or you were going to miss out."

Among the bigger deals to players over 30:

— Ladd, who turns 31 in December, landed with the Islanders for seven years and $38.5 million.

— Eriksson, turning 31 later this month, joined the Canucks for six years and $36 million.

— Nielsen, 32, joined Detroit for six years and $31.5 million.

— Backes, 32, landed in Boston for five years and $30 million.

— Brouwer, soon to be 31, opted for Calgary for four years and $18 million.

Even Lucic, recently turned 28 and landing in Edmonton on a seven-year deal worth $42 million, raises concerns of longevity, especially in a game trending more and more toward speed and skill.

Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli said Lucic had opportunities to sign longer, pricier deals, but was lured by the chance to play alongside Connor McDavid and potentially compete for Stanley Cups in Alberta one day.

"Everything about this guy is terrific," Chiarelli said of Lucic, their relationship dating back to the Boston Bruins organization.

More recently a member of the Los Angeles Kings, the six foot three, 230-plus pound Lucic brings size, some grit and a knack for the net to the Oilers, perhaps a fit with McDavid on the team's top line.

The Vancouver native had his fourth 20-goal season last year in L.A., totalling 55 points in 81 games.

Edmonton recently dealt its top left-winger, Taylor Hall, in exchange for 23-year-old defenceman Adam Larsson, though Chiarelli said the trade and signing were unrelated.

The Oilers are trying to revamp their roster following a 10th straight season out of the playoffs.

One of the more surprising deals of the day saw goaltender James Reimer join the Panthers on a five-year deal worth $17 million that gives Florida a back up for 37-year-old Roberto Luongo.

Perhaps more shocking was the addition of Alex Radulov to Montreal. Among the leading scorers in recent KHL seasons, Radulov hasn't played in the NHL since 2012, his tenure with the Predators ending unceremoniously in Nashville.

It was another interesting gamble for the Canadiens, who dealt P.K. Subban to the Predators for Shea Weber earlier in the week, also trading for and signing Andrew Shaw to a lengthy deal.

Montreal GM Marc Bergevin agreed that the Radulov pact was a gamble, but added: "You could argue that he was one of the highest skilled players that signed today."

Montreal was one of three Canadian teams to add a back-up goaltender on Friday; the Canadiens signed Al Montoya, the Oilers inked Jonas Gustavsson and the Flames added Chad Johnson to back up new No. 1 Brian Elliott.

The Blues, meanwhile, locked up Elliott's former partner in St. Louis, signing Jake Allen to a four-year deal that won't take effect until the 2017-18 season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs, who recently landed Auston Matthews with the No. 1 overall pick, made a small contribution to the frenzy, plucking big, physical fourth-line winger Matt Martin from New York on a four-year deal.

Winnipeg added depth in the form of winger Shawn Matthias, while the Ottawa Senators added pieces mostly for their minor league ranks. The Flames, meanwhile, lost rising centre Joe Colborne to the Colorado Avalanche on a two-year deal.

Other notable signings include long-time Hurricanes captain Eric Staal, who joined the Wild for three years and $10.5 million, Brian Campbell, who signed a one-year deal to return to Chicago, and David Perron, the former Oiler returning to St. Louis on a two-year deal worth $7.5 million.

Darren Helm agreed to remain in Detroit on a five-year pact, while Dan Hamhuis picked Dallas for two years. Former Hab Dale Weise landed in Philadelphia on a four-year deal.

The Red Wings also signed veteran wingers Thomas Vanek and Steve Ott, both on one-year deals.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2016