It may be All-Star Weekend in Ottawa, but general managers around the league are well aware that Trade Deadline Day exactly one month from today. So while the players are wowing the crowds at Scotiabank Place in Saturdays Skills Competition and Sundays All-Star Game, the cell phone bills of NHL GMs are likely going to spike in the next 31 days. The Canadian teams are no exception as some tough decisions will need to be made in the next few weeks. Which ones will be buyers at the deadline and which teams will be sellers? The Canucks appear poised for another long playoff run, so they would fall into the buyers category. General manager Mike Gillis will undoubtedly be shopping for those missing pieces that he hopes will improve the chances of winning the first Stanley Cup title in franchise history. Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers are 14 points out of a playoff spot with 33 games remaining and general manager Steve Tambellini will likely be looking to trade away some roster players to acquire prospects and draft picks amid hopes of adding another cornerstone to the organization in June. The surprising Ottawa Senators are currently in a playoff spot but that doesnt necessarily mean general manager Bryan Murray will be looking to make a blockbuster. "(Dealing) would come with one caveat," Senators owner Eugene Melnyk told The Ottawa Sun this week. "Lets not lose focus of what our job is: Thats to rebuild." But while the Senators are in the enviable position of enjoying some success during a rebuilding process, there are three Canadian teams in the Eastern Conference that dont want to entertain the idea of not making the playoffs this year. The Toronto Maple Leafs are tied for the final playoff spot while the Winnipeg Jets are just five points back but neither team has made the playoffs in the last five years. The Montreal Canadiens are eight points back of eighth place in the East but the expectation of playoff success may be higher there than anywhere else in the league. In the Western Conference, the 11th-place Calgary Flames are three points out of a playoff spot but appear ready to make a run at a playoff, especially after acquiring Michael Cammalleri from the Canadiens earlier this month. But an ill-timed slump could postpone that plan by another year and ignite rumours of some rebuilding moves. So which Canadian teams will be buyers and which ones will be sellers? Its Your Call. ATLANTA -- Gregg Popovich said he couldnt enjoy a lopsided win over longtime Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer. Tim Duncan had 17 points and 16 rebounds in another dominant performance against Atlanta and San Antonio coasted to a 105-79 win over the short-handed Hawks on Friday night. Budenholzer, in his first season as the Hawks coach, was in the San Antonio organization for 19 years, including 17 as an assistant, and the last six as Popovichs top aide. Popovich said facing Budenholzer was difficult. "Actually, its no fun at all, to tell you the truth," Popovich said. "If you win, you feel bad. If you lose you always feel bad. Its a no-win when that happens." The Hawks, already short-handed without Pero Antic and DeMarre Carroll, lost point guard Jeff Teague to a left ankle sprain in the second period. Teague didnt return and is expected to miss at least two games. Boris Diaw led the Spurs with 21 points. Patty Mills, who made a career-high six 3-pointers, had 18 points. Cory Joseph started for Kawhi Leonard, who will miss three to four weeks with a broken bone in his right hand. Joseph had eight points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Leonard joined starting centre Tiago Splitter (sprained right shoulder) and former starter Danny Green (broken left index finger) on San Antonios injured list. Mills said it was "everyones mindset" to step up for the missing players. "Weve got big shoes to fill until everyone gets back," Mills said. "Guys go down, weve still got to stick to the game plan and we were able to do that tonight." The Hawks have an even longer injury list. Budenholzer said Teague will not be with the team for a two-game trip to Milwaukee and Oklahoma City. The Hawks play at Milwaukee on Saturday night. "We will hope that Jeff recovers quickly," Budenholzer said. Teague was leading the Hawks with nine points when he hurt his ankle by landing on Duncans foot. Teague then limped off the court. Even with Teague, the Hawks had only 10 players in uniform. They played their first game after losing Antic for two to four weekss with a stress fracture in his right ankle.dddddddddddd Antic had been the replacement for Al Horford, who was lost for the season when he tore his right pectoral muscle on Dec. 26. Carroll was held out with a mild strain to his left hamstring. Budenholzer said the Hawks cant focus on the injuries. "I think nobody else in the league cares if theres a mounting toll or what our injury status is," Budenholzer said. Paul Millsaps 15 points led the Hawks, who set a season scoring low. Duncan, who blocked four shots, and point guard Tony Parker didnt return after leaving the game with the Spurs leading 77-50 late in the third quarter. The Spurs used backup players in the fourth. Parker had 11 points and seven assists. Duncan, who had 23 points and 21 rebounds in the Spurs 102-100 win over the Hawks on Dec. 2 in San Antonio, enjoyed a strong start in the rematch. He blocked Millsaps shot on the Hawks first possession, then hit a jumper before blocking an attempt by Gustavo Ayon on Atlantas next attempt. The Hawks last lead was 7-6. Back-to-back baskets by Parker and Duncan gave San Antonio the lead for good. Mills sank three 3-pointers in the final minutes of the opening period to stretch the lead to 27-14. The Spurs kept the lead in double figures the remainder of the game. "It doesnt make us feel any better, but this is what they do," said Atlantas Kyle Korver. "Theyre a well-oiled machine." Korver scored his only points on a 3-pointer with about 6 minutes remaining in the first half. He extended his NBA record to 111 consecutive games with a 3-pointer. Budenholzer was called for a technical foul in the second quarter. NOTES: Popovich tied Red Auerbach for 10th place all-time with 938 wins. ... Duncan posted his 17th double-double of the season. ... The Hawks set their previous scoring low in an 83-80 loss to Houston on Jan. 10. ... The Spurs are 6-0 on the road against Eastern Conference teams. ... San Antonio signed G Othyus Jeffers to a 10-day contract. Jeffers averaged 22.8 points and 11.4 rebounds in 22 games with the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League this season. cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '
