why weren't the las vegas hockey team named the aces?

The league specifically told them that they could not have any names with any reference to gambling (as I say this I'm looking at ads for Bet365 and Bovada where I can legally wager on NHL games, but whatever).

The reference to playing cards is too close to a gambling inferance, and the league forbid them from any gambling reference. Wow! They know how to draw the line! lol

Gambling related names were forbidden.

Too obvious.

There was a naming contest, but it was called off. Aces was one of the names under consideration. This article explains why they chose the name Golden Knights.

https://www.nhl.com/goldenknights/news/introducing-the-vegas-golden-knights---newest-nhl-franchise/c-283997132

because everyone knows that this team is going to fail and what better way than to name the team something that wont be remembered

Because the owner wants the team to fail so he can move it to Quebec in 5 years and become the Nordiques.