NHL: 30 best goalies of all time (Updated 2023)

NHL: 30 best goalies of all time: 28. Riley Hern

Stats:

• Save percentage N/A
• 4.68 GAA

Achievements:

• 4-time Stanley Cup champion
• Hall of Famer

Admittedly, the numbers of Riley Hern don’t exactly scream greatness. His GAA continually soared above five and in 1903, Hern won only one of the 12 games he played in and gave up an average of 7.96 goals per night.

Still, even with his deficiencies, Hern deserves a spot on this list. While they may not have come as often as he would have liked, at times, it was nearly impossible to score against him. In 1904, Hern allowed only 1.50 goals. He followed that up with a GAA of 3.00.

Hern will always be remembered for becoming the first goalie to ever win an NHL Stanley Cup. In addition to that, once Hern got the championship ball rolling, there was simply no stopping him. He would go on to win four straight titles for the Montreal Wanderers. He was also selected to an All-Star game as well.

Hern would never get the chance to build on his success as he instead opted to retire from the game at the age of 30. Although his career was short-lived, Hern had a dominant one.

Shortly after his in 1929, he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame.