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The NHL could move on to the second stage of an eventual return over the next month.

In a memo to teams and players, the league said Wednesday it may be able to reopen facilities in mid-to-late May, "provided we continue to trend favorably," TSN's Frank Seravalli reports.

The document also instructed players currently outside their club cities to "consider whether to plan to return" to where their teams are located. For the time being, however, Seravalli added that teams and players have been told to continue abiding by the previous recommendations the NHL issued since pausing the campaign amid the coronavirus pandemic March 12.

Players, coaches, and team staff were most recently asked to self-quarantine through April 30. That end date has been extended three times during the hiatus.

It was reported last week that at least one NHL team informed its players to get ready to report for informal workouts beginning May 15.

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