NEW YORK — The NHL said the New York Rangers informed the league last year that they were looking into sexual assault allegations by a team employee against forward Artemi Panarin after a report detailing the situation and settlement payments made to the woman surfaced Thursday.
“The club retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation, which the league was fully apprised of,” the NHL said in a statement. “We consider the matter closed.”
The Athletic reported that Panarin and Madison Square Garden Sports, which owns the Rangers, paid financial settlements to a former employee last year after she alleged Panarin sexually assaulted her.
A spokesperson for MSG said in an emailed statement, “The matter has been resolved.”
A message sent to Panarin’s agent was not immediately returned. Coach Peter Laviolette referred to MSG’s statement when asked by reporters at the Rangers’ morning skate before their season finale.
Panarin was asked about the situation after the Rangers 4-0 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.
“I’ll just talk about hockey,” he said.
Panarin, a 33-year-old winger from Russia, was the Islanders’ leading scorer again this season and is wrapping up the sixth season of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract signed in 2019.
Panarin won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2016 as the NHL’s top rookie after scoring 30 goals and adding 47 assists in 80 games with the Chicago Blackhawks. He played for the Hawks for two seasons before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in April 2017.