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.”

The NHL says the Rangers informed the league last year that they were looking into sexual assault allegations by a team employee against Artemi Panarin after a report detailing the situation and settlement payments made to the woman surfaced.