Bourque appears set to lace 'em up

Ray Bourque isn't back in skates yet on Causeway Street, but by the way he spoke last night, the 44-year-old Hall of Famer is all but a certainty to join the Bruins' coaching staff any day now as an on-ice consultant.

The job, as head coach Mike Sullivan sees it, would be whatever Bourque chose to make of it.

''I still have to chat with Mike," said Bourque, referring to general manager Mike O'Connell, ''and we have to finalize the whole thing, but . . ."

As Bourque described the job, he would be on the ice with the team for home practices as many as four times per week, working with the defensemen and adding input on special teams. He made it clear he has no desire, after a playing career of 22 years, to be back on the road.

''I'd come to games and watch, too, but nothing behind the bench," said Bourque, who finds himself with more free hours these days now that his eldest son, Chris, is playing in Hershey, Pa. (Washington's AHL affiliate). ''Help the defense, look at the power play, maybe go down to Providence now and then and work with guys down there, too. And if they wanted me to look at a guy [in a scouting role], sure, that would be fine. Whatever they'd ask -- I'd love to help."

As O'Connell said earlier in the week, after Channel 25 reporter/anchor Butch Stearns broke word of Bourque's possible return, the club approached Bourque about a coaching/consulting role only months after he retired following his Stanley Cup win with the Avalanche. But Bourque was reluctant to start a new career then, opting to pick and choose business opportunities that allowed him the freedom to aid in coaching Cushing Academy, where Chris played his high school hockey.

''The time wasn't right," said Bourque, referring to Boston's initial offers to return. ''But we have a lot more free time now. I think it's going to happen -- but it's a matter of time, working out the details."

When a Globe reporter kiddingly asked if Bourque's return to the ice meant lacing up skates for practices or games, Sullivan broke into a wide grin and said, ''Games would be even better.

''I've had four or five conversations with him already," Sullivan added late yesterday morning. ''Ray's expressed an interest . . . and we're always looking at ways to make the coaching staff better."

Bourque, wearing his familiar No. 77 Boston sweater, appeared on the Garden ice last night after the first period of the Bruins-Sabres matchup. The crowd gave him the customary loud cheer as he came out to assist shooters during a sponsor's promotional gig.

''For now it's pretty much all I'm looking for," said Bourque, asked if he might want to expand his duties beyond a consultant's role. ''I say that as much for [the Bruins] as for me. I mean, let's see how it goes . . . yeah, I was a great player and all that, but let's see how this goes -- let's start on a limited basis."