Red Wings' Babcock 'comfortable' with status: report

Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock is going into the final season of his contract and said he won't negotiate once the regular season starts in October.

"If we get something done in September, great," Babcock told Mlive.com on Wednesday. "But if we don't, and I've said this and no one believes me, I have a real good relationship with the general manager (Ken Holland) and I'm real confident in my own ability and confident in the ability he has to put together a team. We'll find a way to work something out over time.

"But I'm not all wound up about this one bit. I'm real comfortable. I'm not selling my house or anything like that. Life's good for me."

Holland told TSN on Thursday he agreed with Babcock's desire to avoid negotiating during the season.

"At the end of the day, that makes the most sense," Holland said. "Our team doesn't need an everyday Mike Babcock watch all year long. We are going to talk in September, and we'll see where we go."

Babcock will begin his 10th season with the Red Wings. He's been to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his first nine seasons, won the Stanley Cup in 2008, and went back to the Final in 2009. He also won two Olympic gold medals as coach of Canada.

"The guy's got an opportunity of a lifetime," Holland told Pierre LeBrun. "He's an unrestricted free agent. He's 52 years of age. His stock isn't going to get any higher. He's coming off his second Olympic gold. He was finalist for coach of the year. People feel the job he did last year with our team was as good as he's done here in a number of years."

Babcock made it sound like he would like to extend his stay in Detroit.

"I've thought a lot about that," Babcock told Mlive.com. "Kenny Holland is a good man, the Ilitches (team owners) are good people and they've looked after us. … I'm going into my 10th year. Our record speaks for itself. I'm real proud of what we've been able to accomplish. I'm about getting better as a coach and ideally that's all going to get looked after."