Rangers forward and leading scorer Artemi Panarin is taking a leave of absence in the wake of an article in Russia that allegedly accuses him of beating up an 18-year-old girl before leaving Russia in 2011.
The news was first reported by New York Post reporter Larry Brooks.
Panarin has been an outspoken critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin, and Brooks said in a tweet that after the 29-year-old Panarin supported Russian opposition leader Alexi Navalny in a post on Instagram last month, it was expected there might be some retaliation against him.
The Rangers issued a statement Monday in support of Panarin:
"Artemi vehemently and unequivocally denies any and all allegations in this fabricated story,’’ the statement read.