Today, the NHL officially released its 31st team's name and logo. The Vegas Golden Knights will join the NHL as the league's first expansion team since the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild joined in 2000.

The name has been highly anticipated. Owner Bill Foley originally sought the nickname "Knights" before the London Knights of the OHL stated Foley would have to acquire the rights to the team, which Foley said was not "economically feasible."

Anticipation has only intensified since Foley announced Sin City's team would stick with "Knights" and would choose one of the three adjectives--"Golden," "Silver" or "Desert"--to buffer it.

The Golden Knights will begin play in the 2017-18 season, joining the Anaheim Ducks, Arizona Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks in the Western Conference's Pacific Division.

Vegas scouts have already begun taking in games around the league and the franchise hopes to hit the ground running after June's draft. The team will not draft later than the sixth overall pick in the first round and will have the third pick in each subsequent round.

The team must also select a minimum of 14 forwards, nine defensemen and three goaltenders from each of the NHL's other 30 teams. These 27 players will be made up of the unprotected players from current NHL teams.

A full list of expansion draft rules can be found here.

What do you think of the new team's name and logo? Let us know in the comments below.