The 1987 NHL entry draft was the 25th draft for the National Hockey League. It was held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, and was the first draft held in the United States. The NHL teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1986–87 NHL season and playoff standings.
The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Mathieu Schneider, who retired after the 2009–10 season.
Selections by round
Below are listed the selections in the 1987 NHL entry draft. Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.
Round one
- Vancouver's first-round pick went to Boston as the result of a trade on June 6, 1986 that sent Barry Pederson to Vancouver in exchange for Cam Neely and this pick.
- Minnesota's first-round pick went to Los Angeles as the result of a trade on June 13, 1987 that sent Los Angeles' first-round (# 6) and third-round picks in the 1987 Entry Draft in exchange for this pick.
- Los Angeles' first-round pick went to Minnesota as the result of a trade on June 13, 1987 that sent Minnesota's first-round (# 4) to Los Angeles in exchange for a third-round pick in the 1987 Entry Draft and this pick.
- Washington's first-round pick went to Quebec as the result of a trade on June 13, 1987 that sent Dale Hunter and Clint Malarchuk to Washington in exchange for Gaetan Duchesne, Alan Haworth and this pick.
Round two
- Minnesota's second-round pick went to Calgary as the result of a trade on June 15, 1985 that sent Kent Nilsson and an optional third-round picks in 1986 entry draft or 1987 Entry Draft to Calgary in exchange for Minnesota' second-round pick in 1985 entry draft and this pick.
- Quebec's second-round pick went to Philadelphia as the result of a trade on June 21, 1986 that sent Philadelphia's second-round pick in 1986 Entry Draft to Quebec in exchange for this pick.
- St. Louis' second-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on June 12, 1987 that sent Montreal's third-round pick in 1987 Entry Draft and second-round pick in 1988 entry draft in exchange for St. Louis' fifth-round pick in 1988 Entry Draft and this pick.
- Boston's second-round pick went to Minnesota as the result of a trade on May 16, 1986 that sent Tom McCarthy to Boston in exchange for Boston's third-round pick in 1986 Entry Draft and this pick.
- Philadelphia's second-round pick went to Detroit as the result of a trade on June 13, 1987 that sent Mark Laforest to Philadelphia in exchange this pick.
Round three
- Buffalo's third-round pick went to Los Angeles as the result of a trade on April 22, 1986 that sent Los Angeles' eighth-round pick in the 1987 Entry Draft and future considerations to Buffalo in exchange for this pick.
- New Jersey's third-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on June 13, 1987 that sent David Maley to New Jersey in exchange for this pick.
- Minnesota's third-round pick went to the Rangers as the result of a trade on September 8, 1986 that sent Brian MacLellan to Minnesota in exchange for this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade). The condition – the Rangers receives a 3rd-rd pick if MacLellan scores 25 or more goals in the 1986-87 season or a 4th-rd pick if less than 25 goals - was converted on March 3, 1987 scoring his 25th goal of the season.
- Los Angeles' third-round pick went to Minnesota as the result of a trade on June 13, 1987 that sent Minnesota's first-round to Los Angeles in exchange for a first-round pick in the 1987 Entry Draft and this pick.
- The Rangers' third-round pick went to Detroit as the result of a trade on July 29, 1986 that sent Kelly Kisio, Lane Lambert, Jim Leavins and Detroit's fifth-round pick in 1988 entry draft to the Rangers in exchange for Glen Hanlon, the Rangers' third-round pick in 1988 entry draft and this pick.
- New Jersey's third-round pick went to Buffalo as the result of a trade on June 13, 1987 that sent Tom Kurvers to New Jersey in exchange for New Jersey's tenth-round pick in 1989 entry draft and this pick.
New Jersey previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with Detroit on March 9, 1987 that sent Mel Bridgman to Detroit in exchange for Chris Cichocki and this pick.
- Winnipeg's third-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on January 8, 1987 that sent Steve Rooney to Winnipeg in exchange for this pick.
- Montreal's third-round pick went to St. Louis as the result of a trade on June 12, 1987 that sent St. Louis' second-round pick in 1987 Entry Draft and fifth-round pick in 1988 entry draft in exchange for Montreal's second-round pick in 1988 entry draft and this pick.
- The Hartford Whalers' third-round pick went to the Chicago Black Hawks as the result of a trade on February 3, 1986 that sent Bill Gardner to Hartford in exchange for an optional third-round picks in 1986 NHL entry draft or 1987 NHL Entry Draft (this pick).
Round four
- Buffalo's fourth-round pick went to Edmonton as the result of a trade on March 6, 1987 that sent Lee Fogolin Jr., Mark Napier and Edmonton's fourth-round pick in the 1987 Entry Draft to Buffalo in exchange for Normand Lacombe, Wayne Van Dorp and this pick.
- Minnesota's fourth-round pick went to Boston as the result of a trade on March 10, 1987 that sent Paul Boutilier to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.
- Los Angeles' fourth-round pick went to the Rangers as the result of a trade on December 9, 1985 that sent Grant Ledyard and Roland Melanson to Los Angeles in exchange for Brian MacLellan and this pick.
- Toronto's fourth-round pick went to Calgary as the result of a trade on May 29, 1985 that sent Don Edwards to Toronto in exchange for future considerations. These considerations became an optional third-round or fourth-round pick (this pick) in the 1987 Entry Draft.
- The Rangers' fourth-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on December 9, 1985 that sent Roland Melanson to the Rangers in exchange for the Ranger's second-round pick in 1986 entry draft and this pick.
- Calgary's fourth-round pick went to St. Louis as the result of a trade on June 13, 1987 that sent Ric Nattress to Calgary in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 1988 entry draft and this pick.
- Edmonton's fourth-round pick went to Buffalo as the result of a trade on March 6, 1987 that sent Normand Lacombe, Wayne Van Dorp and Buffalo's fourth-round pick in the 1987 Entry Draft to Edmonton in exchange for Lee Fogolin Jr., Mark Napier and this pick.
Round five
- Vancouver's fifth-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on June 13, 1987 that sent Vancouver's fifth round pick in 1989 entry draft to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.
Philadelphia previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 6, 1986 that sent Dave Richter, Rich Sutter and Philadelphia's third-round pick in 1989 entry draft to Vancouver in exchange for Jean-Jacques Daigneault, Vancouver's second-round pick in 1989 entry draft and this pick.
- St. Louis' fifth-round pick went to Winnipeg as the result of a trade on June 1, 1987 that sent Perry Turnbull to St. Louis in exchange for this pick.
Round seven
Seventh round pick Tod Hartje would become the first North American trained player to play professional hockey in the Soviet Union.
Round eight
- The Los Angeles Kings' eighth-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on April 22, 1986 that sent Buffalo's third-round pick in 1987 NHL Entry Draft to Los Angeles in exchange for future considerations and this pick.
Round nine
- Washington's' ninth-round pick went to Quebec as the result of a trade on June 12, 1987 that sent Quebec's twelfth-round pick in 1987 Entry Draft and tenth-round pick in 1988 entry draft to Washington in exchange for Winnipeg's this pick.
Round ten
- Winnipeg's tenth-round pick went to the Rangers as the result of a trade on June 8, 1987 that sent the Ranger's fifth-round pick in the 1988 entry draft and third-round pick in the 1989 entry draft to Winnipeg in exchange for Brian Mullen and this pick.
- Hartford's tenth-round pick went to St. Louis as the result of a trade on March 10, 1987 that sent Pat Hughes to Hartford in exchange for this pick.
Round twelve
- New Jersey's twelfth-round pick went to Vancouver as the result of a trade on June 1, 1987 that sent Shayne Doyle to New Jersey in exchange for this pick.
- Quebec's twelfth-round pick went to Washington as the result of a trade on June 12, 1987 that sent Washington's ninth-round pick in the 1987 Entry Draft in exchange for Quebec's tenth-round pick in the 1988 entry draft and this pick.