If they do trust Santini, I wonder if Shero would move LJ to Edmonton for a late pick. He wasn't awful last year and they need a one year stopgap due to the Sekera injury
It's one thing to trust Santini (which I still don't just yet), but why would you also get rid of a perfect 7th defenseman for a late pick?
You want a vet as the 7th so the young guys can play or develop in Binghamton. We've already seen that he won't complain about playing time, by all accounts he's a great locker room presence for a young team and I believe is the only player to have won a Cup. NJ's depth also drops dramatically after the top 7, unless someone like Smith or Yakovlev come out of nowhere to suprise with an amazing camp. Injuries are also going to happen and right now I don't trust anyone out of that top 7 to take an NHL shift.
I'm assuming Yakovlev has a decent enough camp and can lock down the #8 spot and Smith is eventually sent back to the WHL. I have not clue who would even be 9th on the depth chart at this point - would've been MacDonald but with him gone I guess it's Kapla or maybe Jacobs?
For a team that will likely be battling to the end of the season again for a playoff spot it's not worth getting rid of Lovejoy for some late round pick.