NHL free agency: Milan Lucic signs with Oilers

The market wasn't open even an hour before Milan Lucic, Loui Eriksson, Andrew Ladd and most of the top free agents were off the board.

Indeed, it was a wild start to NHL free agency, a flood of deals opening the annual Canada Day tradition.

• NHL free agency and trade tracker
• Canadiens hope Radulov pays dividends in NHL return

Lucic landed with the Edmonton Oilers on a rich seven-year deal, Eriksson picked the Vancouver Canucks for six years, and Ladd agreed to join John Tavares with the New York Islanders. Also quickly signed in the opening hour was David Backes, who joined the Boston Bruins, Fran Nielsen, who will try to fill Pavel Datsyuk's void in Detroit, and Kyle Okposo, who landed in Buffalo.

The Calgary Flames added a big, veteran winger to their youthful forward contingent, signing Troy Brouwer to a four-year deal.

• Milan Lucic chooses McDavid, Chiarelli, Rogers Place, over money

NHL general managers were a mostly calculated, rational bunch on July 1 last summer, but at the start of the event this summer the deals were long, pricey and full of risk. Eleven deals 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.

Among the bigger deals to players over 30:

• Ladd, who turns 31 in December, landing with the Islanders for seven years and $38.5 million US.
• Eriksson, turning 31 later this month, joining the Canucks for six years and $36 million.
• Nielsen, 32, joining Detroit for six years and $31.5 million.
• Backes, 32, landing in Boston for five years and $30 million.
• Brouwer, soon to be 31, joining the Flames for four years and $18 million.

Teams rushed to fill needs at sometimes heavy costs, despite the cap rising only to $73 million for next season.

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

Radulov a shocking addition

Perhaps more shocking was the addition of Alex Radulov to Montreal.

Radulov hasn't played in the NHL since 2012, among the leading scorers in the KHL, his tenure with the Predators ending unceremoniously in Nashville.

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

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

The Blues 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.

Oilers lure top player on the market

Edmonton lured perhaps the top player on the market, inking Lucic for seven years and a reported $42 million. Long of the Bruins and more recently a member of the Los Angeles Kings, Lucic brings size, some grit and a knack for the net to Edmonton, perhaps a fit with Connor McDavid on the team's top line.

The 28-year-old 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.

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

The Toronto Maple Leafs, who recently landed Auston Matthews with the No. 1 overall pick, added some sandpaper to their lineup, bringing in forward Matt Martin on a four-year deal worth $10 million.

Winnipeg added depth in the form of winger Shawn Matthias, while the Ottawa Senators added pieces mostly for their minor league ranks.

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 landing in Philadelphia on a four-year deal.

Canucks and had three goals and 13 points in an injury-shortened 2015-16 season.