Overview
Denis Herron (born June 18, 1952) is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender from Chambly, Quebec. He played in the National Hockey League for several clubs across the 1970s and early 1980s and is remembered for his reliability in a supporting role and for being part of award-winning goaltending tandems.
Playing career
Herron spent time with expansion and established teams during a period of change in the NHL. He appeared with the Kansas City Scouts early in his career, later played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and joined the storied Montreal Canadiens for the latter portion of his NHL tenure. Across those stops he saw duty both as a starter and as a dependable backup, contributing minutes when clubs needed depth in goal. His career took place within the framework of the National Hockey League during an era noted for roster turnover and evolving goaltending roles.
Style and role
Herron was valued for steadiness and team play rather than headline-grabbing statistics. He was often deployed in tandem with other netminders, a common approach for teams seeking consistent results over a long season. His ability to step in and produce quality starts made him a useful piece for coaches managing workloads and injuries.
Honours and awards
- Shared the Vezina Trophy in 1981 alongside teammates Michel Larocque and Richard Sevigny.
- Was co-recipient of the William M. Jennings Trophy in 1982 with fellow goaltender Rick Wamsley, an award that recognizes the goalie(s) for the team allowing the fewest goals.
Legacy and notable facts
Herron’s career is illustrative of a reliable professional goaltender who contributed to both smaller-market clubs and a championship-minded franchise. Sharing major trophies underlines how team-oriented goaltending arrangements could lead to collective recognition. For readers researching NHL goaltenders of that era, Herron represents the experienced, team-first netminder who helped clubs navigate long seasons and occasional playoff pushes.
Further reading and archival material on his seasons, statistics and post-retirement activities can be found through historical NHL records and team histories: player archives, birth and biographical records, local Quebec sources, Canadian hockey associations, professional hockey databases, game logs, positional studies, Montreal Canadiens history, Kansas City Scouts chronology, Pittsburgh Penguins records, NHL historical pages, 1981 season summaries, Vezina Trophy lists, Michel Larocque profiles, Richard Sevigny notes, 1982 award listings, Jennings Trophy information.