The 1988–89 Quebec Nordiques season saw the team finish in fifth place in the Adams Division with a record of 27 wins, 46 losses, and 7 ties for 61 points.
The Nordiques made some trades during the summer months, as they dealt away Mike Eagles to the Chicago Blackhawks for Bob Mason.
Quebec's biggest trade of the summer was trading away Normand Rochefort and Jason Lafreniere to the New York Rangers for Bruce Bell, Jari Gronstrand, Walt Poddubny, and the Rangers fourth round draft pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft.
The Nordiques then fired Lapointe as head coach, and replaced him with Jean Perron on an interim basis.
Captain Peter Stastny led the club with 85 points, as he scored 35 goals and 50 assists in 72 games.
Walt Poddubny scored a team high 38 goals in his first season with the Nordiques, as he also had 37 assists for 75 points.
Michel Goulet saw his numbers drop to 26 goals and 64 points, his lowest totals since his rookie season in 1979–80.