John Tortorella said it in September, after his U.S. team went 0-3 in group play (including a one-sided loss to host Canada) at the World Cup of Hockey. The American coach told reporters Team USA was looking at a "fantastic future" thanks to a group of young players who were ready to join the national program.
Torts was referring to players like Jack Eichel, Auston Matthews and Johnny Gaudreau, plus Brandon Saad and Seth Jones from Tortorella's Blue Jackets, who took the ice for Team North America in the World Cup. That U.S./Canada, 23-and-under mashup was a crowd favorite in Toronto.