Every team in the NHL Central, except for Detroit, had a deal set in stone before the Monday deadline.

There was not any huge player dealt, but Chicago, Nashville, St. Louis, and Columbus all got skaters that they hope will benefit them this season and possibly for seasons to come.

Here are the NHL trade deadline winners and losers for the NHL Central.

Winner: Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators are currently fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Recent struggles have made them slip all the way down to 10th, but with the way things are in the Western Conference a team is never too far away from a playoff spot.

To help the cause Nashville traded a first round pick in 2011 and a conditional pick in 2012 for Mike Fisher from Ottawa. This was one of the landmark deals of the trade deadline.

Nashville picks up a center who fits right into their playing scheme. He can be a potential 25+ goal scorer while adding 40-50 assists in a season. He has plenty of playoff experience, and that’s what Nashville wanted and now hopes Fisher can bring to the team.

Loser: Chicago Blackhawks 

After many statements by Stan Bowman that he was working non-stop on trying to form a deal, the Blackhawks finally acquired defenseman Chris Campoli.

Campoli isn’t the penalty killing machine the ‘Hawks needed, but he does skate and handle the puck fairly well.

I am thinking that Campoli was the best the ‘Hawks could get given their salary cap and the fact that they didn’t give any player on the NHL roster away. Still, there was a sense of disappointment floating around this trade.

But the recent five game winning streak the ‘Hawks are on have abated any trade deadline disappointment the fans might have had. But a little better depth at the defensive position would’ve been nice.

The ‘Hawks are in the playoff race, and things are finally looking to be headed in the right direction.

Other Additions: Michael Frolik and Alexander Salak

Winner: Detroit Red Wings

The Detroit Red Wings were not active in the trade market this season, but they did give goaltender Jimmy Howard a two year contract extension worth $2.25 million per season.

Howard has been everything the Red Wings could ask for. He notched his 31st win of the season Monday night, has a 2.82 goals against average, and a .907 save percentage.

There is little to worry about in Detroit when it comes to the Red Wings. They are, once again, part of the elite teams in the NHL this season. Doing nothing was probably better than doing something in this case.

Loser: Columbus Blue Jackets

The Columbus Blue Jackets biggest addition is forward Scottie Upshall. He’s a decent forward that has just recently been given the chance to play a full NHL season.

Columbus really didn’t do anything to better themselves in the near or far future. Being 12th in the Western Conference, and with the chances of making the playoffs very low, the Jackets failed this season at the deadline.

They, like I said earlier, were effected by the lack of sellers and hot prospects at this year’s trade deadline.

The best the Jackets can hope for is a decent late season run. Improving should be their main goal. Their 7-2-1 record the last 10 games has helped them inch closer to a playoff push, but they are still a good ways away. Still, if this keeps up, Columbus could be a team that makes a late push for the eighth seed.

It’s not likely, but keep your eyes open.

Other Additions: Sami Lepisto, Michael Chaput and Greg Moore

Winner: St. Louis Blues

St. Louis built themselves up for the future this trade deadline. They received two draft picks: one second round pick in 2011 and a third round pick in 2012.

Add an impressive young defensman Kevin Shattenkirk and forward Chris Stewart and the Blues have some very talented youngsters.

This was the plan all along. Recent seasons haven’t been kind to the Blues, as they’ve only made the playoffs once since the lockout.

Hopefully, with these new additions, the Blues can finally build the franchise their fans have been hoping would happen for years.

That new door is the beginning of the final two months of the NHL regular season.

And right out of the gate we are already hearing some more Cristobal Huet trade rumors.

According to a league source, the Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs are currently discussing a trade that would send goaltender, Cristobal Huet to Toronto for defensemen Jeff Finger.

The Hawks have been trying to trade Huet for some time now, mainly to cut some cap room for next year when many of the Hawk players’ contracts are up.

The rumor was denied by a Leafs’ source.

While there might not be a deal set in stone now, the Hawks look like they are trying their best to trade underachieving Huet. With Huet gone the Hawks open up plenty of salary cap room to sing another player, preferably a goaltender.

There were many league sources that stated the Hawks were very interested in Florida Panther, Thomas Vokoun, but the Panthers are not interested in Huet.

There a lot of rumors floating around but none that have really taken off.

So, for now, the Hawks still have Huet and take on the New York Islanders tonight at 6pm cst. Niemi will be in the net.

1. Tony Dungy to Return to Coaching?

Recent rumors have placed Tony Dungy back at the helm of the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers as early as next season. Tampa Bay is 0-5, and has shown no signs of life this season, and its coach, Raheem Morris, is no doubt on the hot seat.

There seemingly will be a change in Tampa in the next couple of years, if not before.

I’ll Tell You This:

I love Tony Dungy, and while I hated to see him leave Indianapolis, I felt that it was the best thing for him and his family.

I have been very impressed with Dungy’s studio reporting, and he and Rodney Harrison make a great duo on NBC’s Football in America.

However, I have mixed emotions on his return, especially this soon.

That being said, I believe that if he is to come back to football, Tampa Bay is the place for him to go. It will be tough for him to build a team, but what a great way for him to prove that Tampa should have never let him go.

2. Other Coaching Rumors in the NFL

Several teams will be looking to replace their head coaches this year after very dismal seasons.

It is most likely safe to say that Jeff Fisher’s job in Tennessee is safe for at least one more season.

However John Fox (Carolina), Wade Phillips (Dallas), Norv Turner (San Diego), Tom Cable (Raiders), as well as a few others may not be so fortunate.

I’ll Tell You This:

I am going to make some bold predictions for this offseason.

Bill Cowher, the chin himself, will return to football at the helm of Carolina. His grit-and-spit coaching style is perfect for the struggling Panthers.

Mike Shannahan will end up replacing Wade Phillips in Dallas. What better coach to handle someone like Jerry Jones on a regular basis. There is talent in Dallas (although Romo is terrible in my opinion), and Shannahan will expose that talent.

My boldest prediction is that Norv Turner will be fired from the Chargers and replaced next season by former Seahawks and Packers coach Mike Holmgren. Holmgren has said on TV that he loves the style of football that the Chargers play, and there is no doubt that he would be a great fit in San Diego.

As for Oakland, I understand that there will be a reality show on MTV called “Who Wants to Punch an Assistant”. They are accepting applications right now. Previous work experience only requires a pulse, and knowing the difference between a football and a hamburger.

As long as Al Davis is in the picture this team is doomed to failure.

3. Gruden. Chuckie. NCAA.

Three words that a lot of NFL fans would have never put in a sentence together may now become a reality.

The main rumor circulating is that Charlie Weis’ job does not rest on the success of his Fighting Irish, but on the decision of John Gruden to come to Notre Dame.

However, even more rumors have recently surfaced placing Gruden in Louisville.

I’ll Tell You This:

As a fan of Golden Domers myself, the very thought of Gruden coming to Notre Dame excites me beyond belief.

Although Louisville would be a good fit for Gruden, he has said that it has always been his dream to coach the Fighting Irish.

Gruden would also be great at handling the pressure that comes with the job in South Bend, Indiana, much better than Charlie Weis has thus far.

4. NFL Trade Rumors

With the NFL Trade Deadline fast approaching this coming Tuesday, there are Trade rumors on the wire that may or may not be valid, I will revue what I find as the most interesting two.

Only five weeks after being named the starting QB of the Browns by Eric Mangini, Brady Quinn is now on the trading block.

While Quinn laughs off the rumors, possible destinations have included Oakland, Tampa Bay, and St. Louis.

The other major trade rumor floating around is Terrel Owens and the Bills. The biggest rumor floating is that he may be headed to Chicago to play with Jay Cutler and the Bears.

I’ll Tell You This:

Quinn is not the answer for any of these terrible teams. He has been a let down, and as it hurts me to say since he is a Irish Alum, he is quickly falling into the Ryan Leaf bust category.

Obviously, Buffalo and their terrible 1-4 record is looking into their crystal ball, and seeing that a T.O. blow up is inevitable at this time. Chicago would be a great fit as it would give Cutler the chance to throw the deep ball.

That being said, T.O. is a gamble anywhere he goes, and will likely destroy any locker room that is not completely controlled. Owens needs Parcells….perhaps a trade to Miami?

5. You Tell Me This:

In this week’s edition of “You Tell Me This” I want to hear from you guys about any rumors in any sports that you may know of, and perhaps if there are any spins on the rumors I have posted!

That’s all for this week kids!

(For the latest on Kellen Winslow’s current spat with Browns’ management, visit the Cleveland Browns news page or read the post specifically regarding Kellen Winslow being upset, and Romeo Crennel’s reaction.)

It has been a great week for the Cleveland Browns, beginning Monday night with the 35-14 victory over the New York Giants, and moving into today when Eric Wright was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. (And, of course, there was the humorous viral story about Braylon Edwards and his Penn State shirt.) However, there is still one cloud hanging over the Cleveland Browns: the status of their outstanding tight end Kellen Winslow.

Last week, we piggy-backed on a few reports about the mysterious illness that landed Kellen Winslow in the hospital and forced him to miss the Monday Night Football game against the New York Giants. We even attempted our own photoshop-style humor to illustrate the purported symptoms being experienced by Kellen Winslow over the weekend.

Well, the good news is that Kellen Winslow is out of the hospital. In fact, he was released on Monday before the beginning of the Browns-Giants tilt. What is still a mystery is what landed Kellen Winslow there in the first place, and why he remains at home receiving treatment and not on the practice field with his teammates preparing for Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins.

According to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, per Cleveland.com, Romeo Crennel had the following to say regarding the current status of Kellen Winslow:

“I spoke with him and he’s doing well. I’m hopeful he’ll play, but there’s no guarantee. If things keep progressing, he’ll be there to help us try to win the game.”

First off, I just want to say that I hope Kellen gets well soon. He is easily one of my favorite Browns players, and one of the primary emotional leaders on our team along with Jamal Lewis. I may have made light of the still-unconfirmed report that Winslow was suffering from swelling in the testicular area, but it was partly in tongue-in-check deference to Winslow’s “soldier” mentality, toughness, and attitude. He exudes the spirit of the euphemism “he’s got balls.”

Whatever his ailment is, and obviously it is something of a relatively serious nature considering the caution of his care and the tight-lipped discussion by the Browns, let’s just hope it’s something Kellen can get over quickly; both for himself and for the team. Unlike Mike Florio over at ProFootballTalk.com, I do not think there is any credence to the notion that the Browns might somehow be better off without Kellen Winslow.

Florio’s comments were part of an interesting report supposedly based on something heard on a Philadelphia radio station that the Cleveland Browns had been contacted by the Philadelphia Eagles regarding a possible trade for Kellen Winslow. Who knows whether or not that is true, but I think the notion that the Browns could be better without Kellen WInslow is preposterous. Now that the trade deadline his passed, the whole story is moot; but nonetheless intriguing and surprising.

Look, Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins made plays Monday night — in fact, they were more than adequate in stepping in during Winslow’s absence — but they are what they are: 2nd and 3rd tight ends, not offensive focal points. Kellen Winslow joins Jamal Lewis, Braylon Edwards, Jerome Harrison and now a healthy Donte Stallworth, to give Derek Anderson and the Browns five significant offensive weapons. Steve Heiden is a solid role player, but the Browns need the dynamic play-making ability of Kellen Winslow to continue moving up the AFC standings.

Did the Browns and Eagles engage in talks about a Winslow trade? Who knows. It would not surprise me, or disappoint me. If the Eagles are inquiring, with Winslow’s contract status a major offseason issue for the Browns to deal with after the season, it is prudent to at least see what they are offering. Let’s be outlandishly hypothetical for a moment, and say it’s a #1 draft pick and DeSean Jackson. Don’t you at least have to think about that? I am sure that is way more than Philadelphia would give up, and I still would rather (I think) the Browns keep Winslow even if that was a potential offer, but it would behoove Phil Savage to at least listen in the best interests of the organization.

At the end of the day though, Kellen Winslow is thankfully still a Brown and seeming to get better by the day even though he remains at home receiving treatment for his mystery illness. Both of these factors are good news, and I am sure that all Browns fans feel exactly like me: we just want to see #80 back on the field, being a dynamic receiving threat and fearless emotional leader for a team that can sometimes be devoid of exactly that.

With each passing day that Kellen Winslow does not practice, however, you have to begin to doubt his availability for Sunday’s game against Washington. Luckily, Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins proved that the Browns can still get significant production from the tight end position even if they are forced to again play without Kellen Winslow, one of the three best tight ends in football.

[tags]kellen winslow, cleveland browns, nfl, football, trade rumors[/tags]