Getting a stainless liner installed and found over fire damage

Having a stainless steel insulated liner put in today. When prepping stove for removal found some damage. Melted the cat.

I remember overfiring and getting the throat red. It never really burned right the last month of the season.
I guess I know why now.
I also think I smoked the refractory box.

I guess I learned a valuable/ expensive lesson.

Installed a stainless 8" insulated liner in the chimney. That took the upgrade budget for this year. Would love to upgrade but will likely have to fix this and get by a few more years. This and the ER bills from smashing my thumb in the splitter, wood heating is expensive this year.

Tired wasn't paying attention smashed in between the base plate and the log.

It was here when we bought the house 2 years ago and actually is work fairly decent for us, of course I have no reference because I've never had a burning stove or insert before.
And yes the ww large has a 8" oval pipe

What would be a good replacment for the ww size wise? I heat my downstairs primarily with it (Approx 1700 sq ft). Most of my wood is cut to 20-22" some a little smaller. I will measure the space when I pull the ww back out next week. There seems to be a little extra room in there now around the insert.

I probably wont be able to change until next year and I had already ordered parts before I got some of the posts read.
The ww did a pretty good job heating. I remember the night I got it hot, it never fired right the rest of last season. So I did the damage. The rest of the metal parts look straight and seem tight.

Even though its not well liked stove I will have to keep it atleast another year. I would not mind some recommendations on similar sized inserts that I can start researching though. This forum is always awesome for info, thank you all.