New York, NY – A recent report reveals that New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin and Madison Square Garden Sports settled with a Rangers employee after she accused Panarin of sexual assault last year. The settlement included non-disclosure and no admission of wrongdoing clauses, with the woman leaving the organization following the agreements in August 2024. The incident allegedly occurred during a Rangers road trip in December 2023, where Panarin reportedly pinned the woman down on a hotel bed, prompting her to push him off and leave.
Despite the allegations, neither Panarin nor his agent have responded to requests for comments. An MSG Sports spokesperson has confirmed that the matter has been resolved, while the NHL has stated that an independent investigation was conducted by an outside law firm, with the League considering the matter closed. The woman did not report the incident to law enforcement initially but later informed the team about the alleged assault as part of a separate investigation into a different incident.
Following the woman’s disclosure, Panarin continued to lead the team in scoring and was in contention for the NHL’s most valuable player award. In February 2021, Panarin took a leave of absence from the team due to claims made in a Russian newspaper about a physical altercation in Latvia. The Rangers refuted these allegations. Despite the controversy, Panarin was named the team’s MVP for the 2024-25 season.
The abrupt exit of the female employee sparked discussions within the organization, with concerns raised about the handling of the situation by MSG Sports executives. The settlement agreements reached with Panarin and MSG Sports marked the end of the woman’s employment with the team. The incident adds to the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Panarin’s personal and professional life, with past allegations and controversies clouding his reputation on and off the ice.