Artemi Panarin, a New York Rangers player, and Madison Square Garden Sports (MSG) reached financial settlements with a Rangers employee who alleged Panarin sexually assaulted her in December 2023 during a road trip. The alleged assault occurred at a post-game gathering. Panarin allegedly withheld the employee's phone, requiring her to retrieve it from his hotel room where the alleged assault took place. She then reported the incident about three months later, during a separate investigation involving the sharing of medication.
The settlements included non-disclosure agreements and no admission of wrongdoing. The NHL conducted an independent investigation and considered the matter closed. Law enforcement was not involved. The employee's departure from the organization followed the agreements.
Multiple Rangers staff members were aware of the situation. An executive held a meeting instructing staff not to discuss the matter. The employee’s sudden exit was widely noted within the organization. Panarin continued to play for the Rangers, even leading the team in scoring and winning the team MVP award. The league and Rangers did not disclose whether Panarin faced any discipline. A previous incident in 2021 involved allegations against Panarin in Russia, which the Rangers denied.