New York AP  —  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. “The club retained an outside law firm to conduct an independent investigation, which the league was fully apprised of,” the NHL said in a statement. “We consider the matter closed.” The Athletic reported that Panarin