The word “blockbuster” gets thrown around a little too often in today’s NHL, often for trades unworthy of the term, in the same way that anything might feel like a five-star meal to a starving man. But the deal that dropped on Friday night? That one deserves the title, no questions asked.

The Hurricanes made a statement move well in advance of the NHL trade deadline. Carolina GM Eric Tulsky explained the team’s move.

In an interview, Mikko Rantanen revealed his reaction a day after the Colorado Avalanche traded him to the Carolina Hurricanes. On Friday, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Colorado Avalanche surprised the whole National Hockey League when they agreed on the terms of a trade involving the Finnish superstar Mikko Rantanen.