Florida Panthers suspend equipment manager following arrest on multiple charges.

The Florida Panthers have quickly moved to suspend equipment manager Teddy Richards after news broke on Friday that Richards had been arrested on multiple charges. Richards has been a long serving member of the Florida Panthers equipment staff, working under the Panthers umbrella since he joined that team for the 2016-17 National Hockey League season.

On Friday Richards was arrested on charges of Touch Or Strike/Battery/Domestic Violence as well as Unauthorized Use Of 911 Services, with details of that arrest quickly making their way onto social media.

Richards is being held in Broward Main Jail in Fort Lauderdale and as of Friday night bond had not been set.

Richards has had an extensive career in the NHL and in hockey in general, winning 2 Stanley Cups with the Panthers and also winning a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 after having spent several years with the Penguins and their American Hockey League affiliate in Wilkes/Barre-Scranton. More recently he served on the equipment staff for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face Off, as well as the 2026 IIHF World Championship and at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games where Team USA ultimately captured the Gold Medal.

The Panthers released the following statement upon learning of his arrest:

The Florida Panthers organization has been made aware of an incident involving the arrest of Equipment Manager Teddy Richards.

Effective immediately, he will be suspended from all team activities and facilities pending investigation.