He played in the National Hockey League with the Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, and Chicago Black Hawks between 1956 and 1973.

[1] As a professional, Backstrom joined the Montreal Canadiens for the 1958–59 season and was selected the NHL's top rookie, receiving the Calder Memorial Trophy.

[2] He played in Montreal for 12 full seasons, winning six Stanley Cups and appearing in six National Hockey League All-Star Games (1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1965, 1967).

After returning to the Canadiens, Backstrom spent most of his time on the bench until being traded to the Los Angeles Kings in January 1971.

[4] With Los Angeles he scored 14 goals in 33 games, enabling the Kings to avoid last place by finishing ahead of the California Golden Seals.

[3] Backstrom then jumped to the World Hockey Association and joined the Chicago Cougars, where he played for two years, and later became a part-owner of the team.

His offensive production dropped sharply in 1974–75 and at the end of the season the new Denver Spurs selected Backstrom in the WHA's expansion draft.

[3] Immediately after his retirement Backstrom accepted an offer to join the staff of newly appointed University of Denver head coach Marshall Johnston as an assistant.

After a good first season,[11] including pushing the number-one seeded Peoria Rivermen to a seventh game in the Turner Cup semifinals,[12] Phoenix dropped to dead last in the 10-team league.

[14] Backstrom, along with Dennis Murphy and Larry King, founded Roller Hockey International and served as commissioner for a time.