| ROUND: 1 | 2 | |||||||
| Round 1 | |||||||
| No. | Team | Player | Pos. | Last team | League | Nationality | |
| 1. | Minnesota | Mike McHugh | LW | Maine | Hockey East | USA | |
| 2. | Vancouver | Andy Gribble | RW | Bowling Green | CCHA | Canada | |
| 3. | Quebec | Phil Berger | RW | Northern Michigan | WCHA | USA | |
| 4. | Pittsburgh | Paul Polillo | C | Western Michigan | CCHA | Canada | |
| 5. | N.Y. Rangers | Mike Hurlbut | D | St. Lawrence | ECAC | USA | |
| NOTE: First round limited to the five teams that had not qualified for 1988 playoffs. | |||||||
