While the Lightning prepare for next week’s draft, and they wait for the New York Islanders to make their selection, Lightning general manager Brian Lawton said on Friday that the search for an assistant coach has been put on hold for the time being.

“We have a couple of guys that we are wating to speak to after we obtain permission,’’ Lawton said. “But it’s not something we are going to concentrate on until early July.’‘

By waiting, it appears that the team has a specific person in mind and are willing to hold out until they have the chance to make a move.

“We do have a real specific candidate in mind and we are prepared to be patient,’’ Lawton said. “And one of the qualities we want to look for is somebody who has worked with younger players.’‘

So, does that mean the team is looking at somebody from the minor league ranks? Certainly Kevin Dineen’s name has come up in other reports and he has enjoyed a certain amount of success with Portland the past few seasons, and he fits the criteria of having worked with young players in the past.

Some other thoughts coming from today’s conversation with Lawton:

The team seems pretty intent that they are holding on to the No. 2 pick in next week’s NHL entry draft. and while there have been some conversations in regards to the pick, Lawton said it’s “been reasonably quiet’’ on that front, “a few converstations but nothing serious.’’ It appears that the Lightning will use the pick, not only for a highly rated prospect, but for a cheaper contract for at least the next three years. It would also give the team another building block to join Steven Stamkos.

In regards to the visit Lawton and co-owner Oren Koules had with the top three prospects when they were brough to town earlier in the month - Matt Duchene, John Tavares and Victor Hedman - Lawton characterized it as a good opportunity to get to know the three players. Instead of speaking and talking to the three prospects in one-on-one settings, the trio was kept together during their visit, even going out to dinner, a gathering that Lawton described as “taking them out for a beer and letting them loosen up a bit’’ although he was clear it wasn’t the same, since, well, all three young men are not legal to drink a beer in the U.S..

Lawton also expressed that whichever of the three players the team winds up selecting, they will get a great player, and that nothing any of them did during the visit was enough to separate or drop themselves in the team’s mind. “It’s like picking lint off a $1,000 suit, really, it’s that close’’ in the team’s thinking on who they would select with the pick.

One more note, saw this earlier today from Greg Logan of Newsday who thinks the Islanders will take Matt Duchene with the first pick, leaving both Hedman and Tavares on the board for the Lightning.

This is a scenario I don’t think many are considering, but it would certainly throw the draft for a loop. If that’s the case, who do the Lightning select , Hedman or Tavares?