“New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin is taking a leave of absence from the team for personal reasons.
“The news comes after a Russian newspaper published allegations from Panarin’s former KHL coach, Andrei Nazarov, claiming the winger got into a physical altercation with an 18-year-old woman in Latvia in 2011.
“Nazarov’s interview said Panarin “sent her to the floor with several powerful blows,” according to a translation provided to ESPN. Nazarov has previously criticized Panarin’s outspoken beliefs toward Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN that the league plans to look into the allegations.
“Nazarov, who played 571 games in the NHL, said a criminal case against Panarin was opened in Latvia but added that somebody paid “a sum of 40k Euro cash” to stop the case, though it was unclear who paid that.”
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