Yes it does make it a priority. These wins don't mean anything, because if they meant some sort of help next year, in the past three years we could see fruits of that mentality. We just see the same mediocrity, as you say, as the actual worst team in the NHL in the past 4 years.
But let's get to the point of the organization priority is to win games. If it was true, we would see some sort of development in our entire team, not just in three or four players. Can you explain why the organization didn't took any measure to avoid all this losing in the past four years? Can you explain why the organization doesn't commit to an actual plan of rebuilding and allows pitty excuses as injuries (Dallas, New Jersey, Arizona or Anaheim laugh out hard with that one) or unexpected results (they were expected if some people look at some stats, but they avoid it like the plague) to justify their failures?
The message that the owner sends to the team is: you can be a complete failure and yet your job is safe. And there's people with 3M/4M/6M contracts who float around an entire regular season, with little to no pressure to produce. So, you can't talk about "playing the right way" or "acceptance of failure or mediocrity" because the mediocrity starts on top and shows a poor example how players should handle themselves.
If you want to show a good example, start cleaning house, save for Brackett and Gradin. Hire competent people who can put a good plan in place and then you can ask something to anyone. Until then, you lay your head down and thank God every single day for having a dream job, receiving millions, doing poorly and not getting canned as you should.
