Report: Rangers' Artemi Panarin, MSG paid to settle sexual assault claim

New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin and Madison Square Garden Sports paid financial settlements last year to a former team employee who made sexual assault allegations against the forward, The Athletic reported Thursday.

The report, citing NHL and team sources, said the alleged assault occurred during a road trip in December 2023. The accuser left the Rangers in August 2024 after reaching settlements that included a non-disclosure agreement and no admission of wrongdoing by Panarin, 33.

The woman reportedly reached two undisclosed settlements, one with Panarin and the other with MSG Sports, the company that owns the hockey team.

According to the report, the woman was a regular member of the Rangers' traveling party. Panarin allegedly took her phone at a post-game gathering and said she could only retrieve it by coming to his hotel room. When she went to his room, sources said Panarin pinned her down on the bed before she was able to push him off, retrieve her phone and leave the room.

Neither Panarin nor his agent responded to requests from The Athletic for comment.

"The matter has been resolved," read a statement from an MSG Sports spokesperson.

The accuser, who was not identified by name as an alleged victim of sexual assault, also said "the matter has been resolved."

The NHL sent an email to The Athletic acknowledging the situation: "The Club retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation, which the League was fully apprised of. We consider the matter closed."

The league and the Rangers declined to disclose whether Panarin had faced any discipline.

Panarin, who was named the team's MVP for the 2024-25 season on Wednesday, leads the Rangers with 89 points (37 goals, 52 assists) in 79 games played this season. New York has been eliminated form the playoffs and will finish the regular season at home Thursday night against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

A four-time All-Star, the Russian-born Panarin has recorded 870 points (302 goals, 568 assists) in 751 games with the Chicago Blackhawks (2015-17), Columbus Blue Jackets (2017-19) and Rangers.

--Field Level Media