In his final year with Plymouth in 2003–04, Liffiton's rights were included in a trade by the Avalanche, along with Chris McAllister, to the New York Rangers in exchange for Matthew Barnaby and a third round selection in 2004 (Denis Parshin) on March 8, 2004.

Towards the end of the season, the Rangers were hit with injury on the blueline and David made his NHL debut playing a solitary game against rivals the New York Islanders, registering 2 penalty minutes, in a 3–2 defeat on April 11, 2006.

[7] Upon Completing the season, he ended his European stint on July 13, 2009, and came back to North America initially signing a one-year deal with Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League.

After his second season as captain of the Lake Erie Monsters, Liffiton left and signed as a free agent for his second stint in Europe, on a one-year deal with newly promoted Hockey Milano Rossoblu of the Italian Serie A on September 11, 2012.

[15] After a season in Innsbruck, Liffton opted to leave as a free agent and return to Denmark in signing a one-year deal with Frederikshavn White Hawks of the Metal Ligaen on July 13, 2016.