The NHL said the New York Rangers informed the league last year they were looking into sexual assault allegations by a team employee against player Artemi Panarin after a report detailing the situation and settlement payments made to the woman surfaced Thursday.

New York Rangers star Artemi Panarin and Madison Square Garden Sports paid financial settlements last year to a former team employee who made sexual assault allegations against the forward, The Athletic reported Thursday.

The 33-year-old forward and the Madison Square Garden Company, which owns the team, each agreed to pay a financial settlement to the employee.