Artemi Panarin, the Rangers’ top scorer and MVP, was accused of sexually assaulting a former team employee in 2023, causing him and Madison Square Garden Sports to pay financial settlements to the woman, according to a new report.
The woman, who was not identified, claimed Panarin pinned her down on his hotel-room bed during an incident that December before she pushed him away and left, The Athletic reported.
Panarin had allegedly taken the woman’s phone during a hotel get-together with other players and Rangers employees during a road trip and told her she would need to come to his room to retrieve it, sources told the outlet.
The settlements reportedly included non-disclosure and no admission of wrongdoing clauses. The woman reached agreements with the Rangers and MSG Sports — which owns the team — last August before she left the organization, according to The Athletic.
In separate statements, MSG Sports and the woman told The Athletic, “The matter has been resolved.”
The woman reportedly informed the team of her accusation about three months after the alleged incident. Before she came forward, she had been placed on paid leave for allegedly giving her anti-anxiety medicine to a player who had concerns about plane travel that were similar to hers.
The Athletic reports there is no record of the woman bringing her Panarin accusation to law enforcement.
“The Club retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation, which the League was fully apprised of,” the NHL told The Athletic in a statement. “We consider the matter closed.”
Thursday’s report came a day after Panarin was named the Rangers’ MVP for 2024-25. He also received the Good Guy award from the media members who cover the team.
Panarin, 33, has led the Rangers in scoring in each of his six seasons with the team. He entered Thursday’s season finale with 89 points, including a team-high 37 goals, in 2024-25.
He has one year remaining on his seven-year, $81.5 million contract.
