0 of 8

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The NHL's Las Vegas expansion team finally has a name (Vegas Golden Knights). Now, it needs a head coach. Candidates could come from the ranks of former bench bosses, such as ex-Calgary Flames coach Bob Hartley. Former head coaches turned assistants, such as Kevin Dineen of the Chicago Blackhawks, could also merit attention.

On Nov. 23, Golden Knights owner Bill Foley told Sportsnet's David Amber (via the Hockey News' Jared Clinton) that general manager George McPhee has a list of six or seven coaching candidates. Some of them are currently employed with other NHL clubs, meaning McPhee must seek permission from those teams to speak with them.

Clinton also noted McPhee's interview with Amber's colleague Darren Millard, in which the Knights GM didn't rule out hiring someone without NHL experience.

The following slideshow ranks the best eight coaching candidates for the Vegas Golden Knights. We'll examine the key factors that could put them in the running for the job. Feel free to express your opinions on this topic in the comments section.