Who's side are you looking at on the trade to determine fairness?

If Toronto, no

If Florida, they take it and run

could almost do

Marner for Ekblad and a high pick,
or
Marner for Ekblad and prospects

Marner is worth more than this

Since you've shown willingness to trade Marner within the division, how about this?

Marner (rights) for Petry ($2.75M retained), Suzuki and Brook (or Juulsen or Fleury). Petry is a better offensive threat, but 7 years older.

Part of Ekblad's value is that he's signed to a long-term, team friendly contract. Once Florida gets the rest of their **** together, Ekblad will be a perennial Norris candidate. If Marner was signed to an equally reasonable long-term deal, then I would say that Toronto wins this trade. However, a traded Marner is likely signed to an 8-figure contract. Is Marner at $12M better for Florida than Ekblad at $7.5M? I would say no.

I wouldn't do this trade if I were Florida.

Florida adds more. Ekblad hasn't shown that he's that bonafide top pair d-man since his rookie season. I'd think to start, add in Henrik Borgstrom from Florida and maybe Florida's 1st round pick from this year's draft. Then maybe a depth roster player. Toronto would add a bit but Florida adds the more value because Marner is the clear cut best player by a lot on this deal. Florida is also probably gonna have to overpay because Toronto is trading Marner to a divisional rival which increases the price by quite a bit

This obsession with RHDs . Thinking it is the answer to the Leafs and all teams problems. Winnipeg had three quality RHD, Buff, Trouba, Myers...over 18m and where are they?
Montreal...Petry and Weber that's over 13m. Washington (this year)...Nishaken, Carlson and Jensen. Florida with Ekblad.

If you like the deal fine, but thinking that having on additional RHD and expense of the Leafs maybe second best forward is the solution for success, I don't see it.

Not even close. And Montreal's price to get Marner would be even higher because it's a historical rival. Doubt Toronto would ever even consider Marner to Montreal unless they massively overpaid

Dubas was dealt a ****ty hand, and made it better and worse simultaneously.

Not sure I agree that having had a half-dozen top-8 picks in a decade is a lousy hand, especially when it's topped up by the best UFA in a generation.

I would take Marner at 12 over Ekblad at 7.5 any day of the week. I've watched enough Florida game to know that Ekblad will never be a "perennial Norris candidate". He's a very good 2-way dman, but he's not a top 10 dman in the league, and he probably never will be. Just my opinion, but I think you're overvaluing him.

Edit: Just FYI, I'm the furthest thing from a toronto fan btw, I just understand that Marner is far more valuable than Ekblad

In defence if the offer top dmen are usually worth more than top forwards in trades