DETROIT -- When Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock approached the larger-than-usual group of media following practice on Thursday, he joked, “this ought to be good.”

And if you’re into vehement contract extension denials, he was right.

With reports swirling that a new contract extension was imminent, the Red Wings coach did everything in his power to shoot them down.

“Guys, that’s like a fantasy world or something like that,” said Babcock, whose phone was flooded with texts before practice. “Ken Holland and I talked before the year. We agreed we wouldn’t do this during the year. Our team is doing good, our team is playing good. I like the way we’re playing. We don’t need any distractions.”

Babcock, whose contract expires after this season, said absolutely nothing has changed on the contract front.

“As far as negotiation between Mike Babcock and Ken Holland, there is none. Ok? There is none,” he said. “We’ve never negotiated once. They came to me once in the summer. They came back the same way just before the season I think it was. And that’s it.”

So, would he do a new deal during the season?

“I don’t think so,” he said. “I’m with Ken all the time. We can talk anytime. We haven’t about this. Period.”