Importance Score: 72 / 100 🔴
New York Rangers’ Artemi Panarin Faces Sexual Assault Allegations and Settlement
New York Rangers star forward Artemi Panarin and Madison Square Garden Sports, the ownership group of the hockey team, reportedly reached financial settlements last year with a former employee who had made sexual assault allegations against the player. This development brings renewed scrutiny to the NHL and its handling of such sensitive matters. The settlements, involving non-disclosure agreements, were made without admission of wrongdoing by Panarin.
Details of the Alleged Incident and Settlements
According to a report by The Athletic, the alleged incident occurred during a team road trip in December 2023. The former employee, who has not been publicly identified, departed from the Rangers organization in August 2024 following the settlements with both the NHL player and MSG Sports. These agreements included a non-disclosure clause and crucially, no admission of culpability from Panarin, age 33.
Sources indicate that the woman was a consistent member of the team’s traveling personnel. The accusation states that Panarin purportedly took her mobile phone at a post-game social gathering. He allegedly suggested she could only retrieve it by visiting his hotel room.
Account of the Accusation
Upon arriving at his room, sources within the NHL and the team reported that Panarin allegedly pinned her on the bed. She reportedly managed to push him away, recover her phone and immediately leave the room.
Official Statements
“The matter has been resolved,” stated a spokesperson for MSG Sports in an official communication.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Accuser’s Statement and NHL Response
The accuser also confirmed that “the matter has been resolved,” keeping her identity private as an alleged victim of sexual assault.
The NHL communicated to The Athletic via email, acknowledging their awareness of the situation. Their statement read: “The Club engaged an external law firm to conduct an independent investigation, of which the League was fully informed. We deem the matter closed.”
Neither the league nor the Rangers have publicly disclosed whether Panarin faced internal disciplinary actions as a result of the allegations and subsequent investigation.
Panarin’s Performance and Team Status
Panarin, who was recently honored as the team’s Most Valuable Player for the 2024-25 season on Wednesday, has been a leading figure for the Rangers. He leads the team’s scoring charts with 89 points, comprising 37 goals and 52 assists, across 79 games this season.
The New York Rangers have been eliminated from playoff contention. Their regular season is set to conclude at home on Thursday night with a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Panarin’s NHL Career
A distinguished four-time All-Star, the Russian athlete has amassed an impressive 870 points in his NHL career. This total includes 302 goals and 568 assists over 751 games played with the Chicago Blackhawks (2015-17), Columbus Blue Jackets (2017-19), and the Rangers.