Odd. Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Quote New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin is taking a leave of absence from the team after a Russian tabloid printed allegations from a former coach that he attacked a woman in Latvia almost a decade ago, which he denies. Andrei Nazarov, a former NHL enforcer who coached Panarin in the Kontinental Hockey League, told Russian tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda in a story published Saturday that Panarin attacked an 18-year-old Latvian woman in a hotel bar in the Latvian capital of Riga following a game in December 2011. Nazarov told the tabloid that Panarin knocked the woman to the floor with ``several powerful blows.'' Nazarov added that he later heard that the Latvian authorities looked into the incident but that no action was taken after ``authoritative'' locals negotiated with the police not to pursue the case, allegedly after money changed hands. Nazarov said he was motivated to speak about the alleged incident because he disagreed with Panarin's repeated criticism of the Russian government. Panarin played for Nazarov with Vityaz Chekhov from 2010-2012. Rest of the article: https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/rangers-panarin-denies-assault-allegations-taking-leave-team?fbclid=IwAR3-c0DPfH11yGKpIKMBoSJ-_x8t2oe5KMnzbkjxbG3YWCXHOE5WhJbl2WA Pretty serious if true, however they are just that, allegations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamhuis Hip Check Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Definitely gonna hold my opinion on this one for now, but a horrible look none the less Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Provost Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 This is almost certainly going to just blow over. The Rangers aren't likely looking for a chance to get out of Panarin's contract anyways, and it would take a lot more than an unsubstantiated allegation to let them to it anyways. Add in the political dimension, and Russia's pretty common tactic of misinformation... they can't really believe anything coming from there anyways. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coconuts Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 (edited) Allegations should be taken seriously, but I'm inclined to believe this is Russia being Russia given how outspoken Pararin has been regarding Putin. Russian hockey star or not, they weren't going to take it lying down forever. Putin's very plugged into the Russian hockey world. Edited February 22, 2021 by Coconuts 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mll Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 1 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Quantum Posted February 22, 2021 Popular Post Share Posted February 22, 2021 Hmmm... I'm normally one to believe the accuser but this is fishy as hell. A Russian coach is making the accusation on behalf of an alleged victim... Panarin is a known critic of Putin and a very public supporter of Navalny. If you've followed any of Russia's politics, you know that Navalny just got put in prison for 3 years on bogus charges after he returned to Russia. Navalny is a stanch critic of Putin and has survived a couple of assassination attempts -- and he was put in prison because he missed a random court date (the reason he missed the court date was because Navalny was in a medically induced coma following the failed assassination attempt). This reeks of politics coming out of the Kremlin. Now that Navalny is in prison, and because Panarin is somewhat untouchable being an NHL star in the States, this seems like the best option to knock Panarin's credibility down a peg for his support of Navalny. Navalny did embarrass Putin with his last video showcasing that billion dollar mansion in the middle of nowhere. Putin's been losing ground steadily in the last few years and he's only exasperated it with his latest string of failures. I'll be interested in how this story develops but as other posters have mentioned -- I don't see the Rangers parting ways with Panarin and I expect after a few weeks that Panarin will be back on the ice. Like I said, this smells fishy. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
250Integra Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Doubt someone called the "Breadman" would do something like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squamfan Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Same thing happened to a NBA player a few years back when he was critical of the Turkey government. His father was arrested there was a random charge and warrents against him and I remember his team was having a regular season game in London and he was advised by his team, the us government and the nba to not go. I mean the hockey guy also says this is a hit piece on him because he is anti putin and is not surprised this was out a month after a video he posted saying he supported the opposition Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Vintage Canuck- Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownky Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 12 minutes ago, mll said: Normally it's boilerplate "we are investigating and refrain comment at this time" -type stuff. The fact it isn't shy about defending their guy is pretty strong indeed. I tend to agree with the Rangers on this one. Between the timing and nature, it just smells like a hit piece because he spoke out against Kaptain KGB... or rather 'in favour' of someone who was not Kaptain KGB. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gurn Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Wonder how many players the Rangers have playing over in Russia? I'd say it just got tougher to get those guys over to North America. Maybe work some kind of trade for those assets, if they have them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoCanucks16 Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 20 minutes ago, mll said: did a high schooler write this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squamfan Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Then there is this clown who not bringing the fact that Panarin family might be in risk, but bring up Navalny politcal believes saying Panarin is supporting this racist . I mean saying that a person like Putin who tired to kill the opposition leader multiple times is not worse, what a joke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Glensky Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 I trust Russian news as much as I trust Trudeau 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt kilgore Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bure_Pavel Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 1 hour ago, mll said: Nice to see that the team is standing behind the player, and that innocent until proven guilty still applies sometimes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Unfortunate worry; Spoiler Wonder who gets poisoned first? Nazaarov, or Panarin's sister / mum / uncle... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canuck Surfer Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Odd. said: Nazarov said he was motivated to speak about the alleged incident because he disagreed with Panarin's repeated criticism of the Russian government. You would like to think he would have been motivated by concern about the girl allegedly assaulted? Not a lack of support for politics of some sort! It does not exactly scream good faith... 2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzle Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Wayne Glensky said: I trust Russian news as much as I trust Trudeau I understand there are political differences, but the two are not at all comparable. Talk about being overdramatic. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elias Pettersson Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 Nazarov was basically a goon in his playing days. I think he took one too many hits to the head. Plus he played for Calgary at one point so that discredits him right away... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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