They kept trying to get rid of him. He kept coming back. Denis Herron had three separate stints with the Pittsburgh Penguins during his career. Originally drafted by the club in 1972, Herron was traded to the upstart Kansas City Scouts before returning shortly after. He then went to the Montreal Canadiens in their post dynasty era before ending his NHL career back in Pittsburgh.
In the early 1980’s, when defense of little importance in the National Hockey League, Herron led the league with a paltry three shutouts. He shared the Vezina Trophy with an unremarkable 3.50 goals against average. His hockey card legacy is his All-Star selection as a junior in the QMJHL and his love for milkshakes.
Junior and Minor Pro
Hockey Card Collection
NHL Career
Rookie Card
Career Stats
Denis Herron – Junior and Minor Pro
Denis Herron played three years of major junior hockey in the QMJHL from 1969-70 to 1971-72 with the Trois Rivieres Ducs. In his final year with the Ducs, he was named a Second Team All-Star goalie with Richard Brodeur of the Cornwall Royals taking First Team honours.
Denis Herron Collection
Herron’s numbers in that 1971-72 QMJHL season were not impressive by today’s numbers. However, the league in the 1970’s will probably remain the highest scoring hockey league in history. Denis had a 4.00 GAA and two shutouts over 40 games while Trois Rivieres finished seventh in the ten team league.
His time in the minors was relatively limited. Over his first three years of pro hockey, 1972-73 to 1974-75, he saw limited action in the NHL, spending much of his time in the American Hockey League with the Hershey Bears, Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate. He also saw a bit of time in the WHL during that time period.
In 1973-74, Herron helped the Bears to a Calder Cup championship, beating the Providence Reds in the finals. Backing up Bob Johnson, Denis played four games in the post season, posting a 1.73 goals against average.
His career would end back in the AHL. In 1985-86, Herron played 27 games for the Baltimore Skipjacks. The team finished last overall in the 13 team league. Just a year before, the Skipjacks reached the Calder Cup finals.
Denis Herron – NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Denis Herron in the third round of the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft, 40th overall. Between 1972-73 and 1985-86, he played in the National Hockey League with the Penguins, Kansas City Scouts and Montreal Canadiens.
His first of three stints in Pittsburgh consists of just 26 games over three years from 1972-73 to 1974-75. In his rookie season, Denis played just 18 games but recorded two of his ten career shutouts. On January 10, 1975, Herron was traded to Kansas City with Jean-Guy Lagace for fellow goaltender Michel Plasse.
In his first full season with the Scouts and the team’s second year in existence, 1975-76, Herron played a lofty 64 games. His 4.03 GAA was respectable considering the team won just 12 games and totaled 36 points. Kansas City finished second last overall, just four points ahead of their expansion cousins, the Washington Capitals.
He returned to the Penguins for the 1976-77 season and played in his first three of 15 career Stanley Cup playoff games. He would play seven more with Pittsburgh in 1978-79 and five with the Canadiens in 1979-80.
His second term in Pittsburgh came to an end when a trade sent him to the Habs in exchange for Rob Holland and Pat Hughes. Despite a goaltending by committee system in the post Ken Dryden days in Montreal, Herron enjoyed his best years with the team as far as individual success.
In 1980-81, Denis shared the Vezina Trophy with Richard Sevigny (33 games) and Michel Larocque (28 games). Herron appeared in 25 games, recording a 3.50 GAA with one shutout. Rick Wamsley appeared in five games for the Canadiens, below the minimum to be including in the award.
The following year, 1981-82, Herron led the NHL with three shutouts. He did this feat in just 27 games. Now teamed with Wamsley, the two were awarded the William M. Jennings Trophy for fewest goals against.
Denis returned to the Penguins to finish out his NHL career. He last played with the club from 1982-83 to 1985-86.
On the international front, Herron played for Canada at the 1978 IIHF World Championships. The tournament was held in Prague, Czechoslovakia. Canada took home bronze, finishing third behind the Soviet Union and the hosts. Herron appeared in five of ten games for Canada, splitting time with Dan Bouchard.
Denis Herron – Rookie Card
The Denis Herron rookie card appears as number 45 in the 1974-75 O-Pee-Chee set. Technically an uncorrected error, his name is spelled Dennis in two places on the back of the card.
On the front of that rookie card, Herron is wearing number 29. In fact, he wore number 1 throughout his three stints with the Penguins. Jim Rutherford wore 29 for Pittsburgh in 1972-73 and Gary Inness wore the number in 1973-74.
His 1978-79 O-Pee-Chee card features an excellent cameo of Penguins team captain Jean Pronovost. More than one of his hockey cards refer to Herron’s apparent love of milk shakes. A number of his cards also refer back to his All-Star selection in the QMJHL.
Denis Herron Career Stats
| Season | Team | Lge | GP | A | PIM | SO | GAA |
| 1969-70 | Trois-Rivieres Ducs | QMJHL | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.25 |
| 1970-71 | Trois-Rivieres Ducs | QMJHL | 33 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 4.12 |
| 1971-72 | Trois-Rivieres Ducs | QMJHL | 40 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 4.00 |
| 1972-73 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.19 |
| 1972-73 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 18 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3.41 |
| 1973-74 | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | WHL | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3.62 |
| 1973-74 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.15 |
| 1973-74 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3.22 |
| 1974-75 | Hershey Bears | AHL | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.39 |
| 1974-75 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.11 |
| 1974-75 | Kansas City Scouts | NHL | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3.75 |
| 1975-76 | Kansas City Scouts | NHL | 64 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 4.03 |
| 1976-77 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 34 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2.94 |
| 1977-78 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 60 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 3.57 |
| 1978-79 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 56 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 3.37 |
| 1979-80 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.51 |
| 1980-81 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 25 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3.50 |
| 1981-82 | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | 27 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 2.64 |
| 1982-83 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 31 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 5.31 |
| 1983-84 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 38 | 0 | 21 | 1 | 4.08 |
| 1984-85 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 42 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4.65 |
| 1985-86 | Baltimore Skipjacks | AHL | 27 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3.42 |
| 1985-86 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NHL | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.67 |
| NHL Totals | 462 | 9 | 89 | 10 | 3.70 |