Sutter is never going to be on the hot seat with Lombardi, I feel. He'll go out on his own terms either way. I think any animosity was short-lived and due to all the crap they had to deal with this year.
Voynov's alleged boxing match
Richards demotion
TV cameras following you around for the outdoor game
Short offseason and general fatigue
Extra media attention as the Champs.
That's a lot of distraction for any team, let alone one that everyone is gunning for. As tight as the room is, you know the Voynov and Richards situations hit some of them hard and a blowup would be inevitable.
I do get the feeling that next year will be Sutter's last either way. I think it's a given if they get that third cup.
As an outsider(Canuck fan) I agree with your take on what went wrong this year, but I would add a couple more things.
As the Champs with Cups in two of the last three years, other teams brought their best games against LA. I know this was certainly true with the Canucks. There was no problem with bringing the A game when playing the Kings. Every other team in the NHL brought the same best effort against the Kings. It wears you down.
Secondly, the drama surrounding the Kings with all the points you mentioned, also has a separate cost. One of the things that killed the Canucks after 2011 was all the drama surrounding the team. From the Vancouver riots to the Luongo trade saga followed by firing Alain and hiring Torts...ultimately led to that world class melt down by the Canucks. That kind of drama with Voyonov, Richards, etc. takes an extra toll.
Finally, playing Sutter hockey is not easy. It requires defensive commitment and hard work on every shift. Add that in to all the extra games you've played adds to the physical exhaustion for sure, but more importantly IMO, is the mental exhaustion. Playing with that kind of focus for the last three years is going to take it's toll.
So yeah, you guys miss the dance this year. But you'll get a great draft pick and you have two Cups. All the hate from other fan bases is pure envy.