“The matter has been resolved”: Alleged sexual assault case against New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin closed with financial settlement

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 17, 2025, 20:10 IST

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Artemi Panarin, alternate captain for the New York Rangers, and Madison Square Garden Sports settled a confidential financial case with a former female team employee who accused him of sexual assault during a team road trip in December 2023. The case was closed after an internal investigation, and Panarin was recently named the Rangers' MVP of the 2024-25 season.

“The matter has been resolved”: Alleged sexual assault case against New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin closed with financial settlement

Artemi Panarin (via Getty Images)

Russian hockey winger and alternate captain for the New York Rangers, Artemi Panarin, and Madison Square Garden Sports settled a confidential financial case with a former female team employee after she accused Panarin of sexual assault, according to The Athletic. The incident reportedly occurred in December 2023 on a team road trip. Neither Panarin nor MSG admitted fault, and the case was reportedly closed after an internal investigation.

Artemi Panarin, New York Ranger standout, and MSG Sports settle allegations against the accused New York Rangers’ winger

Artemi Panarin found himself at the centre of a serious accusation by a now-former team staffer. The woman allegedly accused Artemi Panarin of sexually assaulting her during an after-game party when the team was on the road in December of 2023, as reported by The Athletic.

After the incident, she did not report it to the police or the team authorities at first. But when she felt mistreated, she brought the issue before the organization. There were settlements with both Artemi Panarin and MSG Sports in August 2024. The settlements had non-disclosure terms and no admission of wrongdoing. She subsequently parted with the organization.
An MSG spokesperson confirmed, “The matter has been resolved.” The same message was echoed when the woman was reached by The Athletic.

NHL, New York Rangers did internal review prior to closing case

The National Hockey League and the New York Rangers are said to have opened an independent inquiry headed by an outside law firm. The league was fully informed throughout the proceedings. An NHL statement proclaimed, “We consider the matter closed.”
The league and the team never admitted if Artemi Panarin incurred any disciplinary charges regarding the claim. Interestingly enough, Panarin was recently made the Rangers' MVP of the 2024-25 season despite all this controversy against him.
Also read: And now a massive shake-up in Rangers town: Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider & Mika Zibanejad on the trade block?
The case of Artemi Panarin puts the spotlight again on how professional sports leagues deal with serious off-ice accusations against their best players. Although legal issues can be settled in private, public opinion and institutional responsibility are still in sharp focus.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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