The 1988 NHL entry draft was the 26th draft for the National Hockey League. It was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Teemu Selanne, who retired after the 2013–14 season.
Selections by round
Below are listed the selections in the 1988 NHL entry draft. Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.
Round two
- Minnesota's second-round pick went to the Rangers as the result of a trade on November 13, 1986 that sent Bob Brooke and the Rangers fourth-round pick in 1988 Entry Draft to Minnesota in exchange for Curt Giles, Tony McKegney and this pick.
- Vancouver's second-round pick went to New Jersey as the result of a trade on September 15, 1987 that sent Greg Adams and Kirk McLean to Vancouver in exchange for Patrik Sundstrom, Vancouver's fourth-round pick in the 1988 Entry Draft and New Jersey's option to swap second-round pick in the 1988 Entry Draft. New Jersey exercised the option and swap the 33rd overall pick for this pick.
- Chicago's second-round pick went to the Islanders as the result of a trade on September 9, 1987 that sent Duane Sutter to Chicago in exchange for this pick.
- New Jersey's second-round pick went to Vancouver as the result of a trade on September 15, 1987 that sent Patrik Sundstrom, Vancouver's fourth-round pick in the 1988 Entry Draft and New Jersey's option to swap second-round pick in the 1988 Entry Draft to New Jersey in exchange for Greg Adams and Kirk McLean to Vancouver. New Jersey exercised the option and swap the 23rd overall pick for this pick.
- Buffalo's second-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on November 18, 1986 that sent Tom Kurvers to Buffalo in exchange for this pick.
- Boston's second-round pick went to Edmonton as the result of a trade on March 8, 1988 that sent Andy Moog to the Bruins in exchange for Geoff Courtnall, Bill Ranford and this pick.
- Edmonton's pick went to Minnesota as the result of a trade on March 2, 1988 that sent Kent Nilsson to Edmonton in exchange for cash and this pick.
- St. Louis' second-round pick went to Washington as the result of a trade on December 11, 1987 that sent Paul Cavallini to St. Louis in exchange for Washington's option of St. Louis' second-round pick in 1988 Entry Draft or 1989 entry draft. Washington selected in the 1988 Entry Draft.
St. Louis previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with Montreal on June 12, 1987 that sent that sent St. Louis' second-round pick in 1987 entry draft and fifth-round pick in 1988 Entry Draft to Montreal in exchange for Montreal's third-round pick in 1987 entry draft and this pick.
Round three
- Pittsburgh's third-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on December 17, 1987 that sent Perry Ganchar and future considerations to Pittsburgh in exchange for future considerations. The considerations became a third-round pick swap. Pittsburgh received the 62nd overall pick for 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 the 1988 Entry Draft to the Rangers in exchange for Glen Hanlon, the Rangers' third-round pick in the 1987 entry draft and this pick.
- Hartford's third-round pick went to Edmonton as the result of a trade on December 12, 1986 that sent Dave Semenko to the Whalers in exchange for this pick.
- Montreal's third-round pick went to Pittsburgh as the result of a trade on December 17, 1987 that sent future considerations to Montreal in exchange for Perry Ganchar and future considerations. The considerations became a third-round pick swap. Montreal received the 46th overall pick for this pick.
- Calgary's third-round pick went to Philadelphia as the result of a trade on August 26, 1987 that sent Brad McCrimmon to Calgary in exchange for Calgary's first-round pick in the 1989 entry draft and this pick.
Round four
- The New York Rangers' fourth-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on November 13, 1986 that sent Curt Giles, Tony McKegney and Minnesota's second-round pick in 1988 NHL Entry Draft to the Rangers in exchange for Bob Brooke and this pick.
The Rangers previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with the Minnesota North Stars on October 24, 1986 that sent that sent Mark Pavelich to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.
- Vancouver's fourth-round pick went to New Jersey as the result of a trade on September 15, 1987 that sent Greg Adams and Kirk McLean to Vancouver in exchange for Patrik Sundstrom, New Jersey's option to swap second-round pick in the 1988 Entry Draft and this pick.
- The St. Louis Blues' fourth-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on May 28, 1987 that sent Tony McKegney and Rob Whistle to the Blues in exchange for Bruce Bell and future considerations. Jim Pavese and this pick completed the trade on October 23, 1987.
Round five
- Minnesota's fifth-round pick went to Calgary as a result of a trade on May 20, 1988 that sent the rights to Igor Liba to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.
- Vancouver's fifth-round pick went to Toronto as a result of a trade on October 2, 1986 that sent Brad Maxwell to Vancouver in exchange for this pick.
- The Rangers pick went to Buffalo as the result of a trade on December 31, 1987 that sent Paul Cyr and tenth-round pick in 1988 Entry Draft to the Rangers in exchange for Mike Donnelly and this pick.
- Toronto's fifth-round pick went to Calgary as a result of a trade on September 17, 1987 that sent Dale Degray to Toronto in exchange for this pick.
- St. Louis' fifth-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' second-round pick in 1987 entry draft and this pick.
- Washington's fifth-round pick went to the Rangers as the result of a trade on August 27, 1987 that sent Peter Sundstrom to Washington in exchange for this pick.
- The Rangers' fifth-round pick went to the Winnipeg Jets as the result of a trade on June 8, 1987 that sent Brian Mullen and Winnipeg's tenth-round pick in 1987 entry draft to the Rangers in exchange for the Rangers' third-round pick in 1989 entry draft and this pick.
The Rangers previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with the Detroit Red Wings on July 29, 1986 that sent that sent Glen Hanlon, the Rangers' third-round picks in 1987 entry draft and in 1988 Entry Draft to Detroit in exchange for Kelly Kisio, Lane Lambert, Jim Leavins and this pick.
- Calgary's fifth-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 fourth-round pick in the 1987 entry draft and this pick.
Round six
- Minnesota's sixth-round pick went to Buffalo as the result of a trade on October 13, 1987 that sent Andy Ristau to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.
- Pittsburgh's sixth-round pick went to Los Angeles as the result of a trade on February 4, 1988 that sent Bryan Erickson to Pittsburgh in exchange for Chris Kontos and future considerations that became this pick.
- Toronto's sixth-round pick went to the Islanders as the result of a trade on March 8, 1988 that sent Brian Curran to Toronto in exchange for this pick.
- Detroit's sixth-round pick went to Vancouver as the result of a trade on November 21, 1986 that sent Doug Halward to Detroit in exchange for this pick.
Round seven
- Minnesota's seventh-round pick went to Winnipeg as the result of a trade on March 7, 1988 that sent the rights to John Blue to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.
- Boston's seventh-round pick went to Washington as the result of a trade on June 1, 1987 that sent John Blum to Boston in exchange for this pick.
Round ten
- Quebec's tenth-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 twelfth-round pick in the 1987 entry draft and this pick.
- Buffalo's tenth-round pick went to the Rangers as the result of a trade on December 31, 1987 that sent Mike Donnelly and the 89th overall pick to the Sabres in exchange for Paul Cyr and this pick.
- Boston's tenth-round pick went to New Jersey as the result of a trade on March 8, 1988 that sent Steve Tsujiura to Boston in exchange for this pick.