[SuperMatt18]

I still think player usage and the reluctance to play youth under Sutter is in the end why he needed to go.

Just looking at these playoffs so far...

Akira Schmid was huge in getting New Jersey home ice and then saved the series down 2-0...would Wolf have been given that same opportunity here.

Matthew Knies has been on the ice for all 3 OT winners for the Leafs and is at 0.5 PPG in his 8 NHL games...Coronato wasn't given a game until we were eliminated officially and I doubt Sutter would have had him in playoff OT situations if we made it.

Dawson Mercer has been great for New Jersey each of the last two seasons...Pelletier is 7 months older and their junior production was about the same but Pelletier needed 100 AHL games while Mercer didn't play a single one.

Seth Jarvis is helping Carolina win their division...Connor Zary and him had similar WHL stats. Jarvis played 9 AHL games and goes right to the NHL, Zary has played 134 AHL games without getting an NHL look even though he was the best of the bubble guys coming out of camp and could have easily been given a game as a reward.

I know this is an overly simplistic view, and not all prospects are created equally but incorporating Wolf, Pelletier, Coronato, and Zary next year is going to be essential to this team having success and it just couldn't be left at the hands of Sutter to favour the veterans again.