NHL insider Chris Johnston has revealed some new developments regarding the Mitch Marner and John Tavares contract extension talks with the Maple Leafs. Two of Toronto's best players, Mitch Marner and John Tavares, will become free agents on July 1. The Maple Leafs are reportedly <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/pierre-lebrun-has-just-revealed-the-contract-amount-john-tavares-is-expecting-from-the-leafs' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>in constant contact with their agents about extending their contracts</a>. Chris Johnston from TSN joined 'First Up' with Aaron Korolnek and Carlo Colaiacovo to say <a href='https://www.tsn.ca/radio/toronto-1050/johnston-on-contract-talks-with-tavares-and-marner-leafs-approach-in-trade-market-and-more-1.2231597' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>an in-season signing is not out of the question for either player</a>. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/FirstUp1050/status/1876615236620575016'> </a></blockquote></div> They haven't made any decisions that this has to wait until the end of the year. My understanding is there's pretty ongoing dialogue between the agents for those players and the Leafs. It's not to say they're exchanging official offers at this point. I don't know if it's at that level. But I do think that it's kind of a process that's playing out, Johnston said. Look, you get to a certain point, as a player, it might make sense - I'm thinking specifically Marner - if you get close enough to July 1, you might want to take a peek. I think Tavares is a different situation because, you know, it's very apparent he wants to to stay here in Toronto. It doesn't mean he's going to stay for free. But I think he's at a different stage of his career. It's going to be a different-looking contract than Mitch Marner's next deal, no matter where it's signed. I think that there's still a world that it can happen during this season, but I don't have any reason to believe it's coming today or tomorrow, and we'll just have to see how it plays out. Mitch <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/mitch-marner-8478483' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Marner</a> is on pace for a career-best season, leading the Maple Leafs with 56 points (14 goals, 42 assists) in 41 games. He is fourth in NHL scoring, trailing only Mikko Rantanen, Leon Draisaitl, and Nathan MacKinnon. John Tavares, 34, is having a strong campaign. With 19 goals and 21 assists in 40 games, he's on pace to average a point per game for the sixth time in his NHL career. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/HockeyDaily365/status/1860855817051709791'> </a></blockquote></div> Speculation exists as to whether Tavares' next contract might include deferred money, similar to Jake McCabe's recent five-year, $22.57 million deal with Toronto. This season, at the midway point, the Maple Leafs sit atop the Atlantic Division with 54 points, four clear of the defending Stanley Cup-champion Florida Panthers. Sitting atop the division, Toronto is looking at possible trade deadline additions to bolster a playoff run and is zeroing in on adding a center with term. Names such as Yanni Gourde of the Seattle Kraken and Jonathan <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/nhl-insider-has-the-maple-leafs-as-one-of-the-front-runners-to-acquire-jonathan-toews' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Toews, formerly of the Blackhawks, have been mentioned</a>. How the Maple Leafs approach the March 7 trade deadline will help shape their postseason run and their long-term strategy.