There are very very few what I call true number 1 guys out there. Think Victor Hedman. How many guys have his qualities. Size, skill, production and 2 way play.
There are a lot of guys that are top 2 guys. We have 2 guys who I think are top 2 guys with Morrissey and Pionk. But they lack size to make them a true number 1 guy.
There are guys like Hedman,Makar,Sergachev,Jones,McAvoy,Chychrun,Ekblad,Theodore,Chabot and Hamilton but really only Hamilton is available via UFA and he will cost a lot. Most of the guys listed are young and no team is trading them. Doughty is another guy but I don't think that contract is tradeable. Burns is another guy but do you want him at that age for that long and would he even move here?
You look at say more top 4 types like Manson,Pesce,Lindholm,Severson etc..
It really sucked when Buff decided to retire but that is the card we were dealt.