That can either be a refreshing trait, or a stagnating one. The avoidance of costly mistakes is great, but not if a team becomes so penny pinching that they refuse to make the moves that lead to improvement.
Their recent trade of Mika Zibanejad for Derick Brassard is evidence of this trait. Brassard has a set rate for how much he will get paid for the next few seasons, which is low relative to the production he brings.
His contract was front loaded, meaning that the Rangers will end up paying way more to him than the Senators over the course of the contract.