That's the same problem for all teams. Actually it isn't a problem, that's just how hockey trades go, usually. You don't find a majority of trades where both fan bases end up exchanging players they like.
It's often more just...the reality of a team that is spiraling into those dark days where everyone screams, "blow it up" and it's like...blow what up? Because there's just nothing to blow up. It's a bunch of lower value players nobody wants, entrenched Vets with big contracts and NMC protection or virtually unmovable contracts, and a bunch of scrubs around them.
The Preds avoided this fate forever by developing one after the other after the other #1Ds and a few other very savvy moves. But at this point...it looks like they're at that tipping point. Try to keep throwing good money after bad? Or just tear down what little you can and try to retool...and if you've got some of those contracts on the books, will it even matter?
I've been down this road before. I watched the Canucks kind of stuck in with the Sedins and others and it really just had to run it's course. Takes time though. And it sucks while it's happening.
You can sell off the peripheral pieces all you want...but the core of the problem, is the big dollars guys who aren't living up to it. Those picks and prospects you get in a partial firesale aren't going to turn the team around.