The logical reasoning to trade Ekholm (or any D for that matter), is to get us a #2C, not an older and more expensive (albeit better) D on a worse contract. Less cap space means worse chances to land a #2C in other ways. I mean, if we don't use Ekholm as a piece to acquire that centerman, we might have to take a bad contract or retain to make a deal work.
I just don't see the logic behind trading Ekholm for Giordano.
Giordano is a win now piece, that doesn't damage, but in fact improves our defense and offense(As neither Smith nor Ekholm have done much this year whatsoever). Also being a fitness freak and having took harder matchups the last couple of years than even Weber and Josi (Who took the third most difficult behind the number 1 in Keith-Hjalmarsson and number 2 in Giordano-Brodie), he has the ability to make our defense even deadlier. Also Giordano has shown he can fit with just about anyone. Engelland and Wideman look like top 4 2-way Dman playing Giordano... Also seeing how Weber and Josi took the third hardest matchups in the league the last few years, Ekholm and Ellis were both severely sheltered, and it shown this year that both Ekholm and Ellis were exposed when they had to take even half the dangerous matchups that Josi-Weber took (Ellis has been awesome in the Ozone and Dzone, but he's constantly hammered defensively and gives up a lot of chances, the only reason why his possession was great the last few years was because he kept on taking Ozone starts, sheltered ones as well. I mean Barrett Wallace Jackman had the best possession out of our defense last season, and we all know how bad he was lol.) But I agree, Giordano is a win now piece that will be worse than simply keeping Ekholm if we don't win a cup in 3-4 years. Still, people say Giordano will be a liability for us in the remainder of the contract, and as I have told people many times, Giordano's style of play ages well, and bare major injury or death, Giordano will never be a liability, it's just in 2019 and beyond, Giordano won't be top 2 material anymore. It's very likely Ekholm will be a better player than Giordano from 2020 (Actually almost guaranteed), but Giordano is still excellent.
