Manager Arrested, Suspended
Florida Panthers Equipment Manager Teddy Richards Arrested for Domestic Violence, Suspended by Team
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Key Points
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Richards is a three-time Stanley Cup winner, with a Cup in Pittsburgh in 2016 and back-to-back titles with Florida in 2024 and 2025.
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Prior to joining the Florida Panthers in 2016-17, Richards spent years rising through the Penguins' organization, including jobs with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton as assistant equipment manager (2002-2006) and as head equipment manager (2006-07) before moving to the NHL club in 2013.
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The Panthers suspended Richards indefinitely, according to USA Today, extending beyond a standard pending-investigation pause.
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Richards was arrested on Friday, July 17, in Coral Springs and was booked into Broward County Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale, with bond information not listed at the time.
Florida Panthers equipment manager Thaddeus "Teddy" Richards was arrested Friday, July 17, in Coral Springs, Florida on two misdemeanor charges: domestic battery and unauthorized use of 911 services, according to Local 10. The team suspended him from all team activities and facilities pending an investigation.
Richards, 43, has been with the Panthers since the 2016-17 season and is a three-time Stanley Cup champion. He was booked into Broward County Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale, with no bond amount listed at the time, according to WPBF.
Two Misdemeanor Charges Filed After Coral Springs Incident
Coral Springs police arrested Richards on the evening of Friday, July 17. He faces two counts: battery constituting domestic violence and unauthorized use of 911 services. The second charge typically applies when someone calls 911 without an emergency or uses the line to harass another person. No details about the alleged victim have been released publicly.
Richards was booked into the Broward County Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale. No bond amount was listed at the time of reports, according to NHL Fan Central. The case remains under active investigation, and no court date has been announced.
Panthers Suspend Richards Indefinitely from All Team Activities
The Florida Panthers issued a statement saying Richards is suspended from all team activities and facilities. The suspension goes beyond a standard "pending investigation" pause, WPBF reported. The team has offered no further comment on the matter or a timeline for any internal review.
Richards has served as the Panthers' head equipment manager since the 2016-17 season. He has been part of two consecutive Stanley Cup championship runs — Florida won back-to-back Cups in 2024 and 2025, according to Hockey Feed.
Three Stanley Cups and a Long Career in Professional Hockey
Richards built his career over more than two decades in professional hockey. He started as assistant equipment manager for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Pittsburgh Penguins' minor league affiliate, from 2002 to 2006. He then served as head equipment manager there from 2006 to 2007 before eventually moving up to the NHL club in 2013.
He won his first Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2016 before joining Florida. Beyond the NHL, Richards also served as equipment manager for USA Hockey, including at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off and the upcoming Milan-Cortina Olympics, according to Local 10.
What Comes Next for Richards and the Panthers Organization
The Panthers have not said who will fill Richards' role during his suspension. Florida opens training camp in September ahead of a season in which they will try to win a third straight Stanley Cup. A third consecutive title would be the first in NHL history since the New York Islanders won four in a row from 1980 to 1983.
The outcome of the criminal case will likely shape how the team handles Richards' employment going forward. Misdemeanor domestic battery in Florida carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. The Panthers said they will not comment further while the investigation is ongoing, according to WPBF.
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