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Forced to conduct his media availability outside of GM Place because of a George Michael concert, Vancouver Canucks general manager Mike Gillis told a panicking fan base to have faith.

Faith that burly winger Steve Bernier, acquired from the Buffalo Sabres yesterday for two draft picks, will establish himself as a legitimate NHL power forward, conquer conditioning and inconsistency bugaboos, and spruce up the team's impotent offence.

Faith that despite no big-splash signing four days into free agency, the Canucks are not done shopping, be it via trades, offer sheets to restricted free agents, or by signing the dwindling number of players in the unrestricted pool.

And faith that he has a plan.

"Why panic?" Gillis said. "I think we will be better when the season rolls around because we're actively working on a number of things now."

Yesterday, the Canucks sent a second-round selection in the 2010 entry draft and a 2009 third-round pick, acquired from the Los Angeles Kings, to the Sabres for the 23-year-old winger. Ideally, Bernier is the long-elusive right-handed shot to play with the left-shooting Sedins on the top line, and a net-front presence on the power play.

"We've got what we think is going to be a top-six forward on our team who is a big body and plays hard," Gillis said.

Bernier remains a restricted free agent and must still come to terms with the team. Gillis said he has had preliminary talks with Bernier's agent and could match any offer sheet with $17-million (all currency U.S.) in cap space.

For his part, Bernier admitted he must get in better shape and improve his consistency after three years where he has flashed goal-scoring potential, but also suffered setbacks. The 6-foot-2, 227-pounder was sent to Buffalo at the trade deadline last year by the San Jose Sharks, in exchange for defenceman Brian Campbell.

"I see a chance I don't want to lose it. I don't want to get nervous, but I see an opening," Bernier said. "In San Jose, they had some very good forwards, players with huge contracts and sometimes it's tough to get over. … Maybe it [was] me. Maybe I was up and down too much. I want to change that."

Gillis has added fourth-liners Ryan Johnson and Darcy Hordichuk on the free-agent market and former Maple Leaf Kyle Wellwood on waivers, but he was not prepared to pay high prices for players he didn't think would provide value. He said he would continue to give Mats Sundin, who was offered a two-year, $20-million deal, more time before cutting bait, and he also said he has been in talks with Brendan Morrison, another free agent, and that a deal may still get done with the Pitt Meadows, B.C., native. Yesterday, the Canucks also signed centre Mark Cullen, 29, who played in the American Hockey League last year.

Gillis said his offence hasn't yet improved, and still needs work, notably a front-line centre.

"We're going to be patient and try and make smart moves and not put ourselves in a position where we are boxed in with long-term contracts with players who might not fit," he said.