Panarin, MSG Settle Assault Allegation with Employee

New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin and Madison Square Garden Sports paid financial settlements in August 2024 to a former female team employee who alleged Panarin sexually assaulted her during a team road trip in December 2023. The woman claimed Panarin took her phone and directed her to retrieve it from his hotel room, where he allegedly pinned her to the bed before she escaped. She did not immediately report the alleged assault, instead informing the team months later during an internal investigation into her sharing anti-anxiety medication with a player, after which she was placed on paid leave. Both Panarin and MSG reached separate settlements with her, each including non-disclosure agreements and no admission of wrongdoing, and she subsequently left the organization. The NHL stated that an independent investigation was conducted by an outside law firm and announced no disciplinary action against Panarin, considering the matter closed. Neither Panarin nor his agent responded to media requests for comment, and both the team and the woman issued statements saying, 'The matter has been resolved.'