''I just couldn't imagine standing for the national anthem and looking into the stands. It just would have seemed so foreign. I would have had to line up and hit those guys I was so close to. I'm just not ready to hit them yet.'' Much to Recall With Pride

At last, though, after a week of sleepless nights in a Hartford hotel with his family, Maloney is able to talk about his teammates, his 11 seasons with the Rangers.

There is much to recall, much to celebrate, much to laugh at, much be proud of. Maloney scored a goal on his first shift as a Ranger. He was a part of the team's improbable run to the Stanley Cup final in 1979. He was the most valuable player in the 1984 All-Star Game. Three times he was voted the players' player by his teammates. He ranks among the top 10 Rangers in career points, assists and goals.

''He's just a class act, a great individual,'' Lucien DeBlois, his linemate the last two seasons, said of Maloney. ''It's almost a cliche, but he meant a lot to the people in this room. As a person, you can stay attached. But as hockey players, we just have to let go.''

Ultimately, Maloney was let go because he was not one of Coach Michel Bergeron's favored players. Thus, he likely would not have played much more, despite the special chemistry he had with DeBlois and Jan Erixon on the team's checking line.

''I didn't fit into Michel's picture, and I felt little more than an extra body in his eyes,'' said Maloney, who has been replaced by Kevin Miller, a rookie. ''I blamed him at first, but ultimately, it was Phil's responsibility in trading me.''

''I had thought I had kind of a godfather in Phil,'' Maloney said. ''I would have given my arms and legs for him. I thought if I ever left that it would be of my own choosing. It would have meant a lot for him to come to me and given me time to prepare.''