Canucks sign Blues RW David Backes to offer sheet

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -The Vancouver Canucks signed a three-year, $7.5-million offer sheet with St. Louis forward David Backes just hours after he became a restricted free agent on Tuesday.

Now the Blues have seven days to match the offer or lose the 24-year-old forward to the Canucks for a second-round draft pick as compensation.

"We will review the offer and base our decision on what is best for our organization," Blues president John Davidson said.

Backes spent parts of the past two seasons with the Blues, who selected him in the second round of the 2003 draft. He had 13 goals and 31 points in 72 games last season.

The contract with Vancouver includes a $1-million signing bonus along with $1.5 million in salary this coming season. He'll earn $2.5 million each of the following two years.

Offer sheets took center stage last summer after Edmonton lured Dustin Penner away from Anaheim and touched off an exchange of heated words between Ducks general manager Brian Burke and Oilers counterpart Kevin Lowe.

Edmonton also signed Thomas Vanek to an offer sheet last year that Buffalo matched.