The 1991 NHL entry draft was the 29th draft for the National Hockey League. It was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The worst team in the previous 1990–91 season, the Quebec Nordiques, was given the first overall pick while the expansion San Jose Sharks held the second overall pick.
The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques but immediately refused to sign a contract. What followed (in 1992) was one of the biggest trades in NHL history, which the Philadelphia Flyers used to acquire Lindros, in the process trading away future superstar Peter Forsberg.
The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Ray Whitney, who retired after the 2013–14 season.
Selections by round
Club teams in North America unless otherwise noted.
Round one
- Toronto's first-round pick went to New Jersey as the result of a trade on October 16, 1989, that sent Tom Kurvers to Toronto in exchange for this pick.
- Los Angeles' first-round pick went to Edmonton as the result of a trade on August 9, 1988, that sent Wayne Gretzky, Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley to Los Angeles in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, cash, Los Angeles' first-round pick in the 1989 entry draft, first-round pick in the 1993 entry draft and this pick.
- Washington acquired this pick with first-round picks in the 1992 entry draft, 1993 entry draft, 1994 entry draft and 1995 entry draft as compensation on July 16, 1990, after St. Louis signed free agent Scott Stevens.
Round two
- Quebec's second-round pick went to Washington as the result of a trade on June 22, 1991, that sent Mikhail Tatarinov to Quebec in exchange for this pick.
Quebec previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on November 17, 1990, that sent Aaron Broten, Lucien DeBlois and Michel Petit to Toronto in exchange for Scott Pearson, Toronto's second-round pick in the 1992 entry draft and this pick.
- Winnipeg's' second-round pick went to St. Louis as the result of a trade on June 17, 1989, that sent Greg Paslawski and St. Louis's third-round pick in 1989 entry draft to Winnipeg in exchange for Winnipeg's third-round pick in 1989 entry draft and this pick.
- Philadelphia's' second-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on March 5, 1991, that sent Mark Pederson to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.
- Minnesota's' second-round pick went to San Jose as the result of a trade on May 31, 1991, that sent future considerations (San Jose's promised to Minnesota not to draft Mike Craig in the 1991 NHL dispersal draft) to Minnesota in exchange for Minnesota's first-round pick in the 1992 entry draft and this pick.
- Montreal's' second-round pick went to Chicago as the result of a trade on June 29, 1990, that sent Denis Savard to Montreal in exchange for Chris Chelios and this pick.
- Vancouver's second-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on March 6, 1990, that sent Jyrki Lumme to Vancouver in exchange for this pick.
Vancouver previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with St. Louis on March 6, 1990, that sent that sent Harold Snepsts, Rich Sutter and Vancouver's second-round pick in the 1990 entry draft to St. Louis in exchange for Adrien Plavsic, St. Louis' first-round pick in the 1990 entry draft and this pick.
Round three
- Minnesota's third-round pick went to Calgary as the result of a trade on March 5, 1991, that sent Marc Bureau to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.
- The Rangers' third-round pick went to Hartford as the result of a trade on July 7, 1990, that sent Jody Hull to the Rangers in exchange for Carey Wilson and this pick.
- Los Angeles' third-round pick went to St. Louis as the result of a trade on November 10, 1989, that sent Brian Benning to Los Angeles in exchange for this pick.
- St. Louis' third-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on December 12, 1989, that sent Todd Ewen to Montreal in exchange for future considerations (this pick).
Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with St. Louis on January 16, 1989, that sent that sent Mike Lalor and Montreal's 1st-rd pick in the 1990 entry draft in exchange for St. Louis' 1st-rd pick - 1990 entry draft and this pick.
Round four
- Winnipeg's fourth-round pick went to Chicago as the result of a trade on December 14, 1990, that sent Mike Eagles to Winnipeg in exchange for this pick.
- Philadelphia's fourth-round pick went to Buffalo as the result of a trade on March 5, 1990, that sent Kevin Maguire and Buffalo's second-round pick in the 1990 entry draft to Philadelphia in exchange for Jay Wells and this pick.
- Vancouver's fourth-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on January 12, 1990, that sent Gerald Diduck to Vancouver in exchange for this pick.
- Buffalo's fourth-round pick went to Los Angeles as the result of a trade on October 4, 1989, that sent Dean Kennedy to Buffalo in exchange for this pick.
- Minnesota's fourth-round pick went to Los Angeles as the result of a trade on June 22, 1991, that sent Todd Elik to Minnesota in exchange for Randy Gilhen, Charlie Huddy, Jim Thomson and this pick.
Minnesota previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 6, 1990, that sent Mike Gartner to the Rangers in exchange for Ulf Dahlen, the Rangers' fourth-round pick in the 1990 entry draft and future considerations (this pick).
- Los Angeles' fourth-round pick went to Philadelphia as the result of a trade on May 30, 1991, that sent Jeff Chychrun and Jari Kurri to Los Angeles in exchange for Steve Duchesne, Steve Kasper and this pick.
Round five
- Philadelphia's fifth-round pick went to Winnipeg as the result of a trade on October 3, 1989, that sent Keith Acton and Pete Peeters to Philadelphia in exchange for future considerations and this pick.
Philadelphia previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on September 8, 1989, that sent Mark Laforest to Toronto in exchange for Toronto's seventh-round pick in the 1991 Entry Draft and this pick.
- Winnipeg's fifth-round pick went to Edmonton as the result of a trade on June 12, 1991, that sent John LeBlanc and Edmonton's tenth-round pick in the 1992 entry draft to Winnipeg in exchange for this pick.
- Hartford's fifth-round pick went to Minnesota as the result of a trade on June 22, 1991, that sent future considerations (rights to Jukka Suomalainen) to Hartford in exchange for this pick.
- New Jersey's fifth-round pick went to Winnipeg as compensation after a trade on September 6, 1990, that sent Laurie Boschman to New Jersey in exchange for Bob Brooke. However, Bob Brooke refused to report to Winnipeg and retired from hockey. The trade was changed to this pick.
- Detroit's fifth-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on June 15, 1990, that sent Rick Green to Detroit in exchange for this pick.
Detroit previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on November 2, 1989, that sent Adam Graves, Petr Klima, Joe Murphy and Jeff Sharples to Edmonton in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Kevin McClelland and this pick.
- Washington's fifth-round pick went to Toronto as the result of a trade on January 24, 1991, that sent Paul Fenton and John Kordic to Washington in exchange for this pick.
- The Rangers' fifth-round pick went to Quebec as the result of a trade on January 17, 1991, that sent Joe Cirella to the Rangers in exchange for Aaron Miller and this pick.
Round six
- Detroit's sixth-round pick went to Toronto as the result of a trade on March 5, 1991, that sent Allan Bester to Detroit in exchange for this pick.
- Edmonton's sixth-round pick went to Philadelphia as the result of a trade on February 7, 1989, that sent Dave Brown to Edmonton in exchange for Keith Acton and this pick.
- Washington's sixth-round pick went to Buffalo as the result of a trade on March 6, 1989, that sent Calle Johansson and Buffalo's second-round picks in 1989 to Washington in exchange for Grant Ledyard, Clint Malarchuk and this pick.
Round seven
- Winnipeg's seventh-round pick went to Minnesota as the result of a trade on May 30, 1991, that sent Rob Murray and future considerations to Winnipeg in exchange for this pick.
- Philadelphia's seventh-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on September 8, 1989, that sent Mark Laforest to Toronto in exchange for Toronto's sixth-round pick in the 1991 Entry Draft (later upgraded to a fifth- round) and this pick.
Toronto previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on August 28, 1989, that sent the rights to Jiri Latal to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.
- Minnesota's seventh-round pick went to Calgary as the result of a trade on May 30, 1991, that sent Steve Guenette to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.
Round eight
- Philadelphia's eighth-round pick went to Toronto as the result of a trade on June 16, 1990, that sent Toronto's third-round pick in the 1990 entry draft to Philadelphia in exchange for Kevin Maguire and this pick.
- Minnesota's eighth-round pick went to Buffalo as the result of a trade on May 26, 1991, that sent Darcy Wakaluk to Minnesota in exchange for Buffalo's fifth-round pick in the 1992 entry draft and this pick.
- Detroit's eighth-round pick went to Toronto as the result of a trade on February 4, 1991, that sent Brad Marsh to Detroit in exchange for this pick.
- Buffalo's eighth-round pick went to Toronto as the result of a trade on December 17, 1990, that sent Brian Curran and Lou Franceschetti to Buffalo in exchange for Mike Foligno and this pick.
- Los Angeles' eighth-round pick went to Minnesota as the result of a trade on March 5, 1991, that sent Ilkka Sinisalo to Los Angeles in exchange for this pick.
Round nine
- Edmonton's ninth-round pick went to Quebec as the result of a trade on November 10, 1990, that sent Max Middendorf to Edmonton in exchange for this pick.
Round ten
- New Jersey's tenth-round pick went to Washington as the result of a trade on June 19, 1989, that sent Peter Sundstrom to New Jersey in exchange for this pick.