Rangers Roundup: Panarin’s KHL teammates don’t recall incident, Valentine’s day game rescheduled and more

artemi panarin mika zibanejad
Feb 4, 2021; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers left wing Artemi Panarin (left) and center Mika Zibanejad (93) celebrate their 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Four of Artemi Panarin’s KHL teammates told Mollie Walker of the NY POST they don’t ever recall this incident Andrei Nazarov is speaking of. The former KHL coach is accusing Panarin of assaulting a girl back in 2011 and none of his teammates can recall this.

The Rangers have already released a strong statement backing Panarin.

NY Post Exclusive on Artemi Panarin allegations

Jon Mirasty, a former KHL teammate of Panarin spoke with the NY post and called the accusations accusation “really fishy”.

“[Panarin] was a great kid, I have nothing but nice things to say about him, so when I heard that, I was like, ‘Oh, that doesn’t sound like him,’ ” Mirasty, a Canadian winger, told The Post. “And I’m pretty sure I would have heard something like that, you know, being one of the older veteran players there.

NYPOST

His sentiments were also echoed by other teammates on that KHL club. Reports out of Russia have been calling out Nazarov and saying he has a pattern of lying. They believe he’s trying to gain favor with some other Putin loyalists in hockey circles to obtain another coaching job by going after Panarin whose criticized the Russian president on several occasions.

panarin putin
Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

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Anthony Scultore is the founder of Forever Blueshirts and has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL... More about Anthony Scultore

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