Panarin to address assault allegation after season: 'I have nothing to hide'

New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin will address the assault allegation that led to his recent leave of absence after the season.

"It's probably not the time to discuss it right now," Panarin said Monday, according to NHL.com's Dan Rosen. "I have nothing to hide. I will address everything after the season, but right now, the focus is on the game and not these discussions."

The Rangers announced on Feb. 22 that Panarin would be away from the team indefinitely after his former KHL coach, Andrei Nazarov, said the winger got into a physical altercation with an 18-year-old woman in Latvia in 2011.

New York called the allegation a "fabricated story" and said it was "an intimidation tactic" in response to Panarin's political stances. Panarin has been publicly critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past and expressed support for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Multiple former KHL teammates of Panarin disputed the allegation, and the league said it never received a complaint.

Panarin ultimately missed nine games while away from the Rangers, returning to the lineup March 13. The 29-year-old has recorded 22 points in 16 games this season.

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