From the interviews I've read, it doesn't sound like he lost respect for the organization/Benning at all, but simply had a problem with his deployment/the way he was being coached at the time. Doesn't seem like a coincidence that we started hearing about how he was all of a sudden open to returning and was still a fan of the Canucks after Desjardins was fired.
Making such a highly un-orthodox, career-influencing decision that could negatively stigmatize how you're viewed just as you're starting to prove yourself arguably may not be particularly smart/safe, but it sure as hell isn't cowardly.