PITTSBURGH – It’s not easy being Ken Sutton these days.

“The last three weeks have been the hardest three weeks of my career,” Sutton said yesterday.

Placed on waivers Tuesday by the Islanders, Sutton, 32, feels as if he’s at an all-time low in his 10-year NHL career, seeing action in only eight of 16 games so far this season.

“Frustration is an understatement,” Sutton said. “You really have to dig down deep and ask how much you love the game.”

Teams have until noon today to pick up the 6-1 defenseman, who was also exposed in the Waiver Draft the week before the season started and never picked. According to Sutton, not many are going to be interested in him.

“Why would anyone pick me up right now?” Sutton, who was a part of the defensive corps last year for the Stanley Cup runner-up Devils, said yesterday. “I play two minutes a game.”

As stand-up a guy as there is in the league, Sutton said he harbors no hard feelings toward his coaches or management, though general manager Mike Milbury never talked to him about being placed on waivers.

“I’m not bitter at them,” Sutton said. “I’m bitter at myself. I don’t blame anyone.”

Head coach Peter Laviolette called Sutton at home as soon as he found out about it.

Being a regular healthy scratch has taken its toll on Sutton, who said that the disappointment of not playing is not something he can leave at the rink at the end of the day.

“You bring it home,” Sutton said. “I’m bringing it home to my wife.”

Sutton, a proud player, would rather not play for anyone else just yet. He would rather stay with the Isles and tough it out to show that he belongs.

“I want to prove ’em wrong,” Sutton said. “At this stage of the year, it’s only November, I want to play here.

“I want to play for them.”

If no one bites, Sutton, who averages 9:15 of ice time in games he’s played, could find himself shipped to the Isles’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport, a situation he said he would rather not face.

“It’s a good thing it’s only November,” Sutton said. “I just hope they don’t give up on me.”

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RW Juraj Kolnik was recalled from Bridgeport and may see some time during this road trip . . . Garth Snow started in goal last night against the Pens, his former team . . . Isles are No. 2 in the league with a 92.5 (71-for-77) penalty kill percentage.