It’s the worst-kept secret in the NHL: Lou Lamoriello wants a No. 1 goaltender for the Islanders. He told John Tavares in their meeting last May, before Lamoriello was even officially announced as the new team president, that acquiring a top-flight goalie was his biggest priority.



That was easier said than done this past offseason. Lamoriello went into the 2018-19 season with Thomas Greiss and Robin Lehner; they’ve performed admirably, posting a combined .913 save percentage that’s well ahead of the .903 league average. But neither has been a true No. 1, something that both Lamoriello and Barry Trotz prefer.



The early season rumor mill has churned despite Lamoriello’s airtight front office, with the talk centered around the Blue Jackets’ Sergei Bobrovsky. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end and has reportedly had little to no contract extension talks with Columbus. John Tortorella left Bobrovsky in net for...