So you give me one really weak example from 8 years ago? Cam Barker was terrible. That's not like trading JVR in his prime at all.
At the time he was still a good young player. He was uprooted by Keith and Seabrook and was on the 2nd pair. Once he got to Minnesota his play went downhill. Just because it was 8 years ago does not make it any less true.
As for JVR you are right, it is not the same. JVR is a winger, which are the easiest position to replace on a hockey team. Yes, he scored 36 goals, but that does not change the fact that Babcock didnt trust him unless he was on the powerplay.
Barker getting passed by Keith and Seabrook is like Johnsson and Kapanen passing JVR. Those 2 are better fits for the team with their speed, offensive and defensive ability, etc. Which made JVR expendable.
Plus, nobody said that if you trade JVR for futures, you had to keep those pieces. If you get a 1 st and a good prospect or something then you can trade them with other pieces to a rebuilder for an OEL or Karlsson (since it was rumored OTT wanted 2 firsts for him) or whatever else made sense.
JVR is 1 player, who was on the 3rd line and on the powerplay. His line did very little offensively 5-on-5 and JVR was not exactly the key cog of the PP. He was really good in front of the net, but for every foot you move away from the net he was worse and worse.
If that type of player gets me a good defenseman or a good combo of picks/prospects I take it everyday of the week.