CALGARY (CBC) - The Vancouver Canucks weren't about to let Steve Bernier get away so fast, despite the best efforts of the St. Louis Blues.

Vancouver on Monday night matched the one-year, $2.5-million offer sheet Bernier signed with the St. Louis Blues earlier in the day, preventing the restricted free agent forward from leaving the Canucks before he'd played a game.

Vancouver had seven days to decide, but responded within two hours.

"It's probably more than what we would have optimally wanted to pay, but it is what it is," said GM Mike Gillis.

A similar scenario involving the two teams played out in reverse last Tuesday, when the Blues quickly matched the three-year, $7.5-million offer sheet Vancouver gave to forward David Backes.

"Quid pro quo is what it is," Gillis said. "We were aggressive and they've been aggressive. ...We had been made aware it was coming and they knew we were going to match it right away."

The Canucks acquired the rights to Bernier, 23, from Buffalo last Friday for second- and third-round draft choices.

The six-foot-two, 225-pound winger split last season between Buffalo and San Jose, recording 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in 76 games.

"Steve is a highly regarded young offensive player in our league," Gillis said in a release. "As we have stated, with his right-handed shot, he will be a great addition to our top-six forward group and an asset to our power play."

With files from the Canadian Press

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