Tragedy hits Red Wing family as plane crashes in Russia

The Red Wings remembered former teammate Ruslan Salei as someone who went where he needed to play hockey but always kept his focus on his family.

Salei, 36, was among the 43 people killed in a plane crash in Russia on Wednesday, along with former Wings assistant Brad McCrimmon and former goaltending prospect Stefan Liv. He played for the Wings last season, even though it meant being far from his wife and children in southern California.

The distance didn't keep Salei from being at home when his wife, Bethann, gave birth to the couple's third child, a daughter named Ava, on March 16. She joined sister Alexis and brother Aleksandro.

Salei, a native of Belarus, played 917 NHL games for Anaheim, Florida, Colorado and the Wings.

Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall and goaltender Joey MacDonald express their thoughts on the tragedy in Russia

...PLUS AUDIO OF THE PAST FROM RUSLAN SALEI

Preseason postgame comments vs. Chicago (9/24/10)

Preseason postgame comments vs. Pittsburgh (10/3/10)

Salei helps produce a promo for Rich Curbelo