It doesn't mean they are making rental pick ups, giving up high draft picks, etc. It may just mean they ride the current roster and see what they can do. It will get healthier over time (Demko, Pearson, Dermott and maybe Poolman), so there's potential for improvement in performance and depth. Sign the players they want to keep during off season (Kuz, Bo), buyout or trade players that don't fit into their plans (OEL, Myers, BB, Garland etc). I'm sure their performance will impact the decision to do it by trade deadline or do it in off season. But I don't see this management gambling anything to get one or two playoff round appearance. JR signed on to win the Cup and wanted autonomy from Aquilini. Aquilini flew to his house to convince him to take the job.
It was a stated goal in the pre season to make the playoffs. I don't think that has changed. Bruce said it would be a disaster if they don't make it.