We have heard this since 1996 and I am not sure the US are any closer to overtaking Canada now than they were then.
People will look at them winning 2 WJHC's ignoring the Canadian wins before that and ignoring that Canada was missing players- Bedard, Celebrini etc. that would have had them winning those tournaments easily.
It may be possible but no way is it definite or even likely. Even though the 4 nations was close it was still a Canadian win, just like the previous best on best tournaments have been recently.
Since then the USA has only gotten better, the teams are basically neck and neck at this point. With Hockey continuing to gain popularity and America's population surging, it makes sense that America can be basically equal to or even surpass Canada.
Close is an understatement, the teams went 1-1 with a total score of 5-5, even in world juniors it's 4-4 the last 10 years for Canada USA in terms of wins.
Even looking at the draft, America went from:
0 1st overalls 50 years ago+
3 from 75-00
5 from 01-24
Look at awards:
No Norris wins before 90s
1 in 96
2 since then (maybe 3 this year)
0 Harts until 2015, 2 (counting that one) since then
0 Vezina before 1980s, 2 then to 2000, 5 (basically 6) since then
2 Lindsays last 10 years, never before won
1 Rocket in 96, 3 since then with Matthews likely to win a few more
Very clear progression for America. From Modano/Gretzky to LA impact to the 96 world cup impact to the expansion impact to the success in the world juniors impact, America has been on an upward trajectory that isn't slowing and it's the first time that on paper Canada wasn't a massive favorite, if at all even a favorite, considering the holes in net.