The National Hockey League (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.

Below are listed the selections in the 1987 NHL entry draft.

Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.

Seventh round pick Tod Hartje would become the first North American trained player to play professional hockey in the Soviet Union.